What the Golden Globe winners said backstage

LOS ANGELES—Tom Hiddleston reminisced about Carrie Fisher, Barry Jenkins (director of the best picture-drama winner) mentioned the Philippines, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone let their trophies kiss.

Here are some quotes the winners dished out backstage after the 74th Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton.

Tom Hiddleston, best supporting actor in a limited series or movie made for TV, “The Night Manager,” on the passing of Carrie Fisher: Carrie Fisher was such a fighter. I spent one evening with her last summer in the White House correspondents’ dinner as a guest of the Guardian newspaper. She had this indomitable spirit that was bigger than the occasion.

She was such a force for life. If we can take a lesson from her, it is to live as fully as we can, to embrace our weaknesses and that very act makes them become strengths.

Carrie was so funny. She was looking after her dog, Gary. I was looking after Gary’s rubber duck, which was the rubber duck of Princess Leia. I felt it was only appropriate to have a Princess Leia rubber duck in training because of Carrie’s contribution.

Barry Jenkins, director of “Moonlight,” best picture-drama, on why the film is resonating with people: It wasn’t about making a universal film. It was about getting it right and being very specific as to where we were (Miami, Florida) and what the actors were giving us and trying to speak the truth. In doing that, I think it touches people because they see the authenticity we put into it.

We weren’t trying to do anything but tell a story. People respected that because sometimes you tell a story that people want to pay to see, what they want to hear. We didn’t do that.

(The members of the) Hollywood Foreign Press Association (come from different places)—the Philippines, Russia, all these different places, and people respect that I am not trying to make a film that relates to you or your place.

I am telling my story right here and right now. We need more of that as we move forward in the next four years on this planet.

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, best actor and actress-musical or comedy, respectively, for “La La Land,” on why their movie has become so popular:

Ryan: Emma spoke beautifully about that in her speech.  What moved me about this film was the importance of pursuing your dream despite the obstacles. It is a beautiful message for [director] Damien [Chazelle] to put out in the world at such a time that we are in.

Emma: That’s the key to what’s inspiring about the movie right now. I also think there’s something about these two characters—what they are going through is very realistic and human even in these kind of fantastical circumstances where they’re singing, dancing and everything is colorful.

The story of two people struggling in that way, falling in love and how it ultimately unfolds is something that everybody can relate to in some way.

Ryan, asked about how the love fantasy is really affected in the modern era: I have had too much to drink to answer that question.

Damien Chazelle, best director, “La La Land,” on his victory (he’s the youngest to win best director in the Golden Globes’ history): It feels incredible. I am still processing it. This is my first time ever at the Golden Globes.

I assume it doesn’t always go this way, so I am not going to get used to it. But I was so honored to be here at all and be onstage with the people I made this movie with.

What I was most excited about was getting to see Justin (Hurwitz, who won best score and song for “La La Land”), who I went to college with. I met him in college. We talked about movies when we were 17 and 18. That was the single greatest moment for me.

Viola Davis, best supporting actress, “Fences,” on the first thing she will do when she gets home from the Globes: I am not going to get in my jacuzzi, because it will be too late. Probably take a shower and maybe have another glass of Prosecco with my husband (actor Julius Tennon).

Viola on how to make sure progress in easing racial tension will not be erased in Donald Trump’s America: I will, believe it or not, remove Trump from the equation. Because I identify the issue as bigger than him.

I believe it is our responsibility to uphold what it is to be an American, what America is about and the true meaning of what it means to pursue the American dream.

I think that America in and of itself has been an affirmation. But we have fallen short a lot. Because there is no way that we can have anyone in office that is not an extension of our own belief system.

Isabelle Huppert, best actress-drama (“Elle”), on whether she was scared at first in tackling the role of a rape victim: The scariest things are the most rewarding. I think it depends on who you do it with. It didn’t scare me. Truth never scared me—never. In life, it’s a different story.

Paul Verhoeven, director of the best foreign language film winner, “Elle,” on what he thought were the chances of “Elle”: In the United States, there was controversy about the movie. I didn’t realize that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was so open-minded to accept this in all its strangeness and otherness, and as Isabelle called it, disturbance.

Tracee Ellis Ross, best actress in a TV series-musical or comedy, “black-ish,” on how she hopes young women will be inspired by her work (she is the first black actress to win this category since Debbie Allen in 1983): I feel like I received this award and hold this now as my inspiration and being a face for women of color and colorful people. This nomination was exciting to me, as was my Emmy nomination, and to see the industry look outside of where they usually look.

So, our industry can really be at the forefront of making sure that the story of diversity is told.  And diversity does not just mean people of color. It is all different ages, shapes and sizes. It’s about making sure that the stories that we tell and how we celebrate those stories actually represent the world that we live in.

So I hope that young women continue to be encouraged to be themselves … but not just women—also young men—all of us.

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