Whitby’s Joanne Froggatt and Leeds director Wash Westmoreland lead Golden Globes British invasion

American actress Julianne Moore, 54, won the award for her starring role in Still Alice, about a teacher diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s.

The film was directed by Leeds-born Wash Westmoreland, a former pupil at Fir Tree Middle School in Moortown, and his partner Richard Glatzer.

Westmoreland, the son of a maintenance engineer and a hair salon receptionist, was born Paul Westmoreland but a nickname picked up at school has stuck. He emigrated to America after university.

An old school friend said: “I have no idea how he got his nickname but he was always a very special guy at school. He still is.”

Froggatt picked up a best supporting actress award in a TV series for her role as the maid Anna Bates in Downton Abbey.

Born and raised in Littlebeck, near Whitby, she has been given some hard-hitting storylines in Downton as her character had to cope with the aftermath of being raped and then wrongly accused of murdering her attacker.

She paid tribute to victims of sexual violence, telling the audience: “After the storyline aired I received a lot of letters from survivors of rape - thank you to everyone who wrote - I heard you.”

Felllow Brit Eddie Redmayne picked up an award for his portrayal of physicist Stephen Hawking in The Theory Of Everything and English actress Ruth Wilson, 32, was named best actress in a TV drama for her role in The Affair.

Style commentators noted that white was the order of the night, leading to cries of “bride wars” as actresses in statement white gowns followed each other down the red carpet “aisle”, including Brits Emily Blunt, stunning in an elegant Michael Kors Grecian-style dress, and Rosamund Pike, looking a little too daring in a Vera Wang tulle gown that appeared barely attached by strings of dental floss.

Keira Knightley, four months pregnant, wore an empire-line Chanel butterfly-print dress with a huge lace yoke and tiers, sadly all too reminiscent of a 1970s’ Laura Ashley maternity gown.

Rich blues were another popular choice, not least by Amy Adams whose winning look was a sweeping one-shoulder Versace gown in ice-blue silk, while Joanne Froggatt looked beautifully “upstairs” in a navy, crystal-embellished dress by Marchesa. Meanwhile, Felicity Jones looked slightly overwhelmed in her regal teal Christian Dior high-neck, full-skirted dress, while her co-star Eddie Redmayne cut a neat, dandyish figure in a black velvet tuxedo suit by Gucci, making a welcome break from the regulation silk-sheen tailoring favoured by most male stars. However, even he was upstaged in the sartorial stakes by Jared Leto in a white suit with black lapels, and Scottish actor Alan Cumming in a flesh-toned suit teamed with baseball boots.

Fashion plaudits went to Naomi Watts for her gorgeous sunshine yellow Gucci gown, teamed with a gasp-inducing serpent necklace by Bulgari, while British actress Ruth Wilson flew the flag for non-conformity in an unusual, retro-chic, high-necked, emerald green column dress by Prada.

The most eagerly anticipated red arrival of the night was Amal Clooney, making her debut in a sleek black Dior one-shoulder gown with train, teamed with long ruffled white gloves - instantly ensuring that they become the must-have fashion accessory for 2015.

Other winners...

The best director award went to Richard Linklater for Boyhood, which also won the best motion picture award.

Best actress in a motion picture was won by Julianne Moore, Still Alice.

Eddie Redmayne took the best actor award for his role in The Theory of Everything.

Winner in the best comedy or musical was The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Michael Keaton was best actor in a comedy or musical for Birdman, with Amy Adams (Big Eyes) best actress.

Best actress in a miniseries or TV movie went to Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman.

Best TV drama was The Affair. Best actor in a TV drama was Kevin Spacey, House of Cards.

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