Downton Abbey acquires a golden pinnacle

The ITV1 programme has gone from strength to strength since it started for a second series in autumn last year, with a clutch of Emmys, high viewing figures and success in America.

Yesterday’s triumph in the category of best television mini-series, against competition that included BBC series The Hour and Home Box Office drama Mildred Pierce, was the icing on the cake.

Elsewhere, Meryl Streep won best dramatic actress for her portrayal of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the film The Iron Lady. The awards are seen as a pointer for possible Oscar success.

Titanic star Kate Winslet was also among the British winners, bagging the gong for best actress in a mini-series for her performance as in Mildred Pierce.

London-born actor Idris Elba triumphed in the leading male category, taking home best actor for his role in BBC One’s crime drama Luther.

Downton Abbey, ITV1’s hit saga about the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants, has proved a huge success in the UK and across the Atlantic. Accepting the award at the Beverly Hills ceremony, its creator, Oscar winner Julian Fellowes, said: “How fabulous this is. The whole Downton adventure has been an extraordinary one. Like spotting a promising child and waking up to find they’ve have won the Olympics – and that’s what we’ve lived through.”

Before the ceremony, the stars of country house drama took to the red carpet and spoke about why the series was so popular among viewers in both the UK and America.

Actress Elizabeth McGovern, who plays the Countess of Grantham, said: “I think they love the drama and the intrigue, and they also love the solidity of the life, that you’re free of mobile phones and Twitter.”

Her on-screen husband, Hugh Bonneville, added: “People tend to love period dramas, but this is one where you don’t know the ending. It’s not like an adaptation of a book.”

Black-and-white silent film The Artist was the biggest winner of the night, scooping gongs including best musical or comedy and best actor in a musical or comedy for Jean Dujardin.

George Clooney claimed the award for best dramatic actor in a movie for his role in The Descendants, which was named as best drama.

Meanwhile Meryl Streep thanked “everybody in England” for allowing her to come and “trample all over their history” as she picked up her award for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher.

The Oscar-winning actress spoke of the “thrill” of winning the prize for best actress in a drama motion picture.

“This is such a thrill but really, really embarrassing in a year that saw so many extraordinary performances by women in leading roles – by my friends, by people I do not know, by people that I am so inspired by,” she said in her acceptance speech.

The 62-year-old, who received her award from British actor Colin Firth, remembered during her speech that she did not have her glasses with her and would have to give her speech from memory. “Oh, I am going to have to remember my speech!” she said.

She added: “I have got to thank everybody in England that let me come and trample all over their history.

“We made this for 25 cents in five minutes. I am so proud of the film and I am so, so, so grateful.”

The 69th annual Globes ceremony saw British comic Ricky Gervais take to the stage to host the prestigious event for a third consecutive year.

He appeared to tone down his performance compared with previous ceremonies, no doubt conscious of the icy reception many of his controversial gibes aimed at Hollywood’s elite have received.

In his opening gambit, the funnyman said organisers had warned him that were he to insult anyone on hand, or “offend any viewers, or cause any controversy whatsoever – they will definitely invite me back next year as well”.

And during the ceremony, he quipped the Globes “are just like the Oscars, but without all that esteem. The Globes are to the Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton. A bit louder, a bit trashier, a bit drunker and more easily bought. Allegedly. Nothing’s been proved”.

He also joked to the early winners: “You don’t need to thank everyone you’ve ever met or members of your family, who have done nothing. Just the main two. Your agent and God.”

‘Give film-making role in schools’

THE next generation of film-makers should learn the skills they need at school, shadow culture, media and sport secretary Harriet Harman has said following a Government review of the UK film industry.

Among the proposals are a programme to “bring film education into every school” and to bring projectors and screens to community halls.

The review called on the film industry to take advantage of “a golden period” in UK cinema and for more to be done to build a British film ‘brand’, including setting up an annual British film week.

Miss Harman said: “Providing for education in film will broaden every child’s education, help to build the audiences of the future and nurture the talent which will sustain it.”