Jackman Globe best actor, Hathaway best supporting actress

Actress Anne Hathaway arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. John Shearer/Invision/AP

LOS ANGELES – Australian actor Hugh Jackman won the Golden Globe for best actor in a musical or comedy Sunday for his all-singing role in musical adaptation “Les Miserables.”

Jackman beat fellow nominees Jack Black in “Bernie,” Bradley Cooper in “Silver Linings Playbook,” Ewan McGregor in “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” and Bill Murray in “Hyde Park on Hudson.”

In his acceptance speech, Jackman – praised for his vocal skills in the movie – revealed that he almost gave up the starring role of Jean Valjean only a few weeks before it started filming.

“Three weeks before we started filming, we had a terrible day of rehearsal. Humiliating day,” he said, adding he told his wife: “‘It’s time. I have to ring (the director), tell him someone else should play the role. I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.’

“My wife talked me off the cliff like she talks me (down) most days. Baby, I will say it in front of the entire world – thank you for always being right, baby. I love you.”

Anne Hathaway,  meanwhile, won best supporting actress Golden Globe on Sunday for her role as the young mother and prostitute Fantine in musical adaptation “Les Miserables” by British director Tom Hooper.

Hathaway beat fellow nominees Amy Adams in “The Master,” Sally Field in political drama “Lincoln,” Helen Hunt in “The Sessions” and Nicole Kidman in “The Paperboy.”

Actor Hugh Jackman and wife Deborra-Lee Furness arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 13, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. Jason Merritt/Getty Images/AFP

Thanking Globes organizers the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), she said: “Thank you for putting me, my work in this category with great and gutsy actresses. Amy, Nicole, Helen and Sally.

“Thank you for this lovely blunt object that I will forevermore use as a weapon against self-doubt” she added, clutching the golden award.

She also paid tribute to fellow cast member Hugh Jackman and director Tom Hooper. “Hugh Jackman, my friend, you are brilliant in this role. I love you. Tom Hooper,” she said.

 Originally posted at 10:21 am | Monday, January 14, 2013