COURTNEY Cox: 2010 nomination. RUBEN NEPALES
LOS ANGELES – As the 69th Golden Globes approaches, we asked several actors to share their most memorable moments at the annual awards show, which honors the best in film and television.
With respondents ranging from Aaron Eckhart to Robin Williams, the answers included memories of experiencing “epiphany,” and one that recalled a winner wanting to plant a “big wet kiss” on somebody in the audience.
The following colorful anecdotes reflect the fun, freewheeling party atmosphere of the Golden Globe Awards, which takes place this Sunday,
January 15 (Monday morning, Manila time) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Aaron Eckhart
“I had an epiphany at the Golden Globes – during the last time I went (2009). I was sitting there at the balustrade looking over this beautiful hall – the dining room. Everybody was there… Johnny (Depp) and Brad (Pitt), Angelina (Jolie), all the guys, (Steven) Spielberg… I looked at them and I thought, this will be my family for the next 20, 30 years. It has been my family for the last 10, 15 years. These are the people I’m going to grow old with. I felt like… I’d never had that thought before.”
Laura Dern
“Being ‘Miss Golden Globe’ (1982). It was huge for me as a kid. It’s such a visceral memory. I was 15; I remember my grandmother dropping me off and then I was turned over to my
MICHAEL Hall: “Pretty phenomenal.”
Hollywood Foreign Press Association guardians, Marianne Ruuth and Yani Begakis (both deceased). They met me at the parking lot of the Beverly Hilton. I remember it very well. They walked me in. I didn’t know what to do or where to go. They had to teach me even how to hold the trophy because I wasn’t quite doing it right.
“I remember being taught and trained in how to be refined by Madame Ruuth and Yani. It was an amazing experience. I also remember Tim Hutton and me giving out an award. We were two young actors, two kids. I felt grateful for the experience. It was the first time I dressed up for anything. As a girl, I appreciated that. And meeting people that I greatly admired as actors was thrilling.
“I have been blessed to have had many opportunities to attend the Globes show again. You’re sitting at a table with people you made your movie or show with, eating good food and drinking good wine. You get to hang out together and talk about this show you did, which is quite a lovely way to experience an awards show…”
Courtney Cox
“When I was nominated (in 2010) – that was the most memorable. I’ve been to the Golden Globes many times, for ‘Friends’ or whatever. But the most fun I’ve ever had was to go there when I was nominated. That’s my favorite. It was just fun. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I have a real reason to be here.’ ”
Jason Reitman
“My first memorable moment was the first time that I was nominated for a Golden Globe [in 2010] because that was a life-changing moment for me. This organization recognized my films before everyone else did… It’s so hard to make the kind of films that I’m trying to make. They’re left-of-center films. They’re very tricky. ‘Thank You for Smoking’ is not an obvious film. ‘Juno’ is not even an obvious film. ”
AARON Eckhart: “My family.”
“The most memorable was when I won [also in 2010]. I wish it was something more nuanced, more unique. I wish I had some funny stories, but I really didn’t think I was going to win that night. I really thought Quentin (Tarantino) was going to win and I was kind of watching to clap for Quentin, frankly. I heard my name and you can probably see it in my acceptance speech. I was so scared out of my wits. I really didn’t think it was going to happen and it’s something that I truly cherish.”
Christina Ricci
“Oh, wow. Well, I loved the year that I was there (2004), the year that Charlize [Theron] won for ‘Monster.’ It was so much fun to be there when she won and it was such a great time. I was so happy for her and it was just such a wonderful night.”
Michael C. Hall
“Aside from winning (2010)? That’s number one. It was really exciting just to be in that room, and it’s unique among awards shows because it brings together the top talents from the film and television worlds. I suppose that [also] happens at the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Awards, but at the Golden Globes you have not only actors but also directors, writers, etc. You get caught up in whatever your preoccupation is, but I think my favorite moments were just being able to sit back and think wow, this is pretty phenomenal, to be invited to this party and to feel that the work I’m doing or what we’re doing on the show is being celebrated along with all these other people. It’s a thrill, you know.”
Robin Williams
“The year that Gerard Depardieu won (1991) and got up and he was pretty hammered and he said, ‘I want to give (name withheld) a big wet kiss.’ I went, at that point, forget gay
JASON Reitman: Surprise win.
wedding, that’s the moment I want to see. That’s why people like to watch the Golden Globes, just because you have an open bar which is always interesting. And obviously, the moment (in 2003) when Bono said, ‘This is really, really f***ing brilliant.’ That was like, yes! But I think the Gerard Depardieu moment was amazing.”
E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com. Follow him at https://twitter.com/nepalesruben.