Golden Globes 2025: Zoe Saldaña's trophy snatch and Zendaya's bling steal the spotlight

For the first major entertainment award show of 2025, the 82nd Golden Globe Awards kicked off the awards season in grand style, delivering a mix of anticipated victories and unexpected moments. I loved every moment of this show, beginning with the host comedian Nikki Glaser—making history as the first solo female host. Glaser walked a fine line to deliver material that wasn’t insulting ala Ricky Gervais, but she did it expertly with wit, charm and humor. The crowd seemed to love her, too.

The spotlight shone brightly on The Brutalist, a postwar epic that emerged as the evening’s top winner. The film clinched three major awards: Best Drama, Best Director for Brady Corbet, and Best Actor in a Motion Picture for Adrien Brody. Brody delivered a wonderful acceptance speech thanking his partner Georgina Chapman (Harvey Weinstein’s ex-wife and designer of Marchesa).

In the Musical or Comedy category, Emilia Pérez stole the show, claiming multiple trophies, including Best Film, Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña (her first Golden Globes win), Best Song and Best Non-English Language Film.

A standout moment of the night came when Demi Moore, 62, earned her first major acting accolade, winning Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for her role in The Substance. Moore’s heartfelt acceptance speech was a highlight of the ceremony, marking a triumphant return to the spotlight. She was also one of my best dressed choices, wearing a custom Giorgio Armani Privé dress. Her look featured a strapless champagne silk gown accented with a curved geometric detail embellished with Swarovski crystals. STUNNING!

On the television front, Shōgun was named Best Drama Series, while Hacks continued its reign as Best Comedy Series, showcasing the enduring appeal of its sharp wit and standout performances. It was great seeing Jean Smart accept as Best Actress in a TV/Comedy/Musical. “Never thought I’d be so happy to be called a hack,” she said.

Timothée Chalamet, accompanied by Kylie Jenner, delivered a standout moment by winning Best Actor in a Drama Series for his captivating performance in HBO's The Kingmaker. This marked the actor's first Golden Globe win.

The evening also featured off-screen interactions that added to the event's allure. Zendaya put to rest engagement rumors with Tom Holland after being seen wearing a diamond ring on her left hand while wearing a stunning Louis Vuitton evening gown on the Red Carpet. According to People magazine, the ring is a 5.02-carat East-West Cushion Diamond Button Back Ring from Jessica McCormack, listed in the engagement section on the jewelry brand's website.

And in another surprise move, the film adaptation of the musical Wicked receiving the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement Award. This newly introduced category honors films that have achieved significant box office success and garnered extensive global audience support. Fans on social media seemed disappointed that the musical didn’t win more categories.

Unlike other award shows, the Globes emphasize a relaxed, dinner-party atmosphere where stars mingle at tables and enjoy the evening alongside their peers. The open-bars and free-flowing liquor sometimes make for unexpected moments onstage too.

The most talked about liquor-related moment occurred when Zoe Saldaña made headlines after unexpectedly taking the stage when El Mal, the song from her film Emilia Pérez, won Best Original Song. As composers Camille Dalmais and Clément Ducol approached the stage to accept their award, Saldaña seized the trophy from presenters Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh, prompting Goldblum to awkwardly reclaim it and hand it over to the rightful recipients. The moment quickly sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many viewers criticizing Saldaña's actions as awkward and disrespectful. In a later interview with Extra, Saldaña explained that she had been influenced by champagne at her table and was urged by colleagues to act on impulse. (Source: New York Post)

Another notable incident involving alcohol occurred when Kieran Culkin, after winning Best Supporting Actor for his role in A Real Pain, admitted that he and his wife had done a shot of tequila with Mario Lopez before the ceremony. He went on to deliver a charming acceptance speech.

Overall, I thought the show was one of the best I've seen in a long while. I loved the fashions- elegant and appropriate- and I appreciated the winners, especially those winning for the first time. I also thought it was rather ironic that so many of the show's commercial sponsors were for weight loss drugs. Go figure! 

(To see entire list of winners, click here and click here to see more of the night’s snubs and surprises.)

The Golden Globe Awards, established in 1944 by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), have long been a prestigious celebration of excellence in film and television. Originally focusing solely on movies, the awards expanded in 1956 to honor television productions. Known for their unique blend of glamour and entertainment, the Golden Globes serve as a precursor to the Academy Awards, offering early predictions for Oscar contenders.