In a twist of a cruel fate the late Heath Ledger won the award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “The Dark Knight.” The Australian actor’s posthumous trophy was accepted for him by director Christopher Nolan as the stars invited at the Beverly Hilton Hotel gave a standing ovation. The big irony that not even a screenwriter would dare to suggest, the actor was nominated for an Oscar as well, just a year to the day after his death.

 

Some of the Golden Globes winners appeared surprised and flattered, including the English actress Kate Winslet, who won a trophy for best dramatic actress as an unhappy suburban housewife in "Revolutionary Road" and another one for best supporting actress in "The Reader" for her performance as a German troller worker with a horrendous secret.

 

In the other film awards, Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" received the award for best comedy or musical, "Waltz with Bashir" was named top foreign language film, while "Wall-E" took the animation prize. The New York-set “Mad Men” won best TV drama. “30 Rock” won Best TV series (Musical or Comedy) and best actress and actor in a comedy went to Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin.

 

As for the 28-year-old "Brokeback Mountain" leading man who died last January from an accidental overdose of prescription medications, after completing his work as The Joker but before "The Dark Knight" was released, we can say that he became the sixth actor, after James Dean, Spencer Tracy, Peter Finch, Ralph Richardson and Massimo Troisi, to be nominated posthumously. His last movie became the second-highest grossing movie in Hollywood, after "Titanic."