The stars were out in force at last night’s Golden Globe Awards ceremony as historical drama 12 Years a Slave and crime caper American Hustle enjoyed great success.

Nominated seven times on the night, 12 Years looked certain to walk away empty handed especially after losing key awards like Best Director and Best Actor. But in the end, it managed to come up trumps by landing the crucial Best Film (Drama) award ahead of Gravity and Captain Phillips.

In contrast, Hustle won three categories including Best Film (Comedy/Musical) while stars Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence were named Best Actress (Comedy/Musical) and Best Supporting Actress respectively. The latter was celebrating her second successive Globe win which carries on her extraordinary status as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Matthew McConaughey was the surprise winner of Best Actor (Drama) for his role in Dallas Buyers Club as he beat off from the much-fancied Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years) and Tom Hanks (Cap Phillips). His co-star Jared Leto also secured Best Supporting Actor ahead of Michael Fassbender (12 Years) and Bradley Cooper (American Hustle).

Cate Blanchett eased to Best Actress (Drama) for her exceptional performance in Woody Allen’s dramedy Blue Jasmine ahead of Sandra Bullock (Gravity) and Judi Dench (Philomena).

The renowned director (who didn’t attend the ceremony as per usual) was the recipient of this year’s Cecil B. DeMille award for his exceptional film career. The accolade was accepted on his behalf by Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton who had previously worked with Allen on the likes of Manhattan and Annie Hall.

Leonardo DiCaprio won Best Actor (Comedy/Musical) for Martin Scorsese’s controversial biopic The Wolf of Wall Street over initial favourite Bruce Dern (Nebraska) while Alfonso Cuaron was named Best Director for his work on Gravity.

Frozen was the other expected winner for Best Animated Film but there were a couple of small shocks in the lesser categories which included U2 clinching Best Original Song for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and Alex Ebert winning Best Original Score for All is Lost (ahead of experienced composers John Williams and Hans Zimmer).

The full list of winners are below:

BEST MOTION PICTURE (DRAMA)
12 Years a Slave

BEST MOTION PICTURE (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
American Hustle

BEST DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuarón – Gravity

BEST ACTOR (DRAMA)
Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

BEST ACTOR (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST ACTRESS (DRAMA)
Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

BEST ACTRESS (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Amy Adams – American Hustle

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle

BEST SCREENPLAY
Spike Jonze – Her

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Alex Ebert – All Is Lost

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
“Ordinary Love” – U2 – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Frozen

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Great Beauty (Italy)
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In the television categories, Breaking Bad finally ended its barren spell with the Golden Globes by winning two awards including a deserved Best Television Series (Drama) gong.

Leading actor Bryan Cranston deservedly won Best Actor in a Television Series (Drama) for his sensational performance as Walter White though co-star Aaron Paul missed out on the Best Supporting Actor award which instead went to veteran Jon Voight for Ray Donovan.

Robin Wright was named Best Actress in a Television Series (Drama) for her role in House of Cards while British veteran Jacqueline Bisset secured Best Supporting Actress for Dancing on the Edge.

Police sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine was the surprise winner of the night as it beat off competition from The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family to secure Best Television Series (Comedy/Musical). Leading star Andy Samberg also won in his Best Actor in a Television Series (Comedy/Musical) category ahead of comeback king Michael J. Fox (The Michael J. Fox Show).

Amy Poehler (who was once again on top form in the hosting department with colleague Tina Fey) was clearly stunned by her Best Actress in a Television Series (Comedy/Musical) win for Parks and Recreation.

Finally, the Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra won two awards for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television with Michael Douglas being honoured with Best Actor for his exceptional performance (beating off co-star Matt Damon and Al Pacino in the process). Elizabeth Moss secured the Best Actress accolade for her role as a New Zealand detective in Top of the Lake (ahead of British stars Helena Bonham Carter and Helen Mirren).

The full list of winners are below:

BEST TELEVISION SERIES (DRAMA)
Breaking Bad

BEST PERFORMANCE BY ACTRESS IN TELEVISION SERIES (DRAMA)
Robin Wright – House of Cards

BEST PERFORMANCE BY ACTOR IN TELEVISION SERIES (DRAMA)
Bryan Cranston – Breaking Bad

BEST TELEVISION SERIES (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine

BEST PERFORMANCE BY ACTRESS IN TELEVISION SERIES (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Amy Poehler – Parks and Recreation

BEST PERFORMANCE BY ACTOR IN TELEVISION SERIES (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Andy Samberg – Brooklyn Nine-Nine

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Behind the Candelabra

BEST PERFORMANCE BY ACTRESS IN MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Elisabeth Moss – Top of the Lake

BEST PERFORMANCE BY ACTOR IN MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Michael Douglas – Behind the Candelabra

BEST PERFORMANCE BY ACTRESS IN SUPPORTING ROLE IN SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jacqueline Bissett – Dancing on the Edge

BEST PERFORMANCE BY ACTOR IN SUPPORTING ROLE IN SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jon Voight – Ray Donovan