Golden Globes: Brave scoops best animated film award

SCOTTISH movie Brave has been named best animated film at this year’s Golden Globe awards.

• Win for Brave seals sixth win in seven years for Pixar since Globes added animation category

• Awards for British trio: Skyfall singer Adele, Downton’s Dame Maggie Smith and Homeland actor Damian Lewis

The story of headstrong Highland princess Merida, which features the voices of Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane and Kelly Macdonald, beat off competition from Frankenweenie, Rise of the Guardians, Hotel Transylvania and Wreck-It Ralph to take the trophy at the star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles last night. It was the sixth win for Disney’s Pixar Animation unit in the seven years since the Globes added the category.

The film, which had its European premier at last year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival, was nominated for an Oscar last week. British stars honoured at the 70th Golden Globes included singer Adele, veteran actress Dame Maggie Smith and actor Damian Lewis.

Dame Maggie collected her award for best supporting actress in a TV miniseries for her role as Violet Crawley in ITV’s Downton Abbey. But the veteran actress, who did not attend the ceremony in Los Angeles, missed out on a second gong for best actress in a comedy or musical in her latest film Quartet.

Singer Adele gushed “oh my God” repeatedly as she took to the stage with co-writer Paul Epworth to collect her award for best original song for a motion picture for their theme tune to the latest James Bond adventure Skyfall.

Homeland star Damian Lewis dedicated his win for best actor in a television drama to his mother. “I’d like to dedicate this to my mum, looking down on me bursting with pride telling everyone around her how well her son is doing in acting,” he said.

British blockbuster Les Miserables took home three gongs. scooping the best movie, musical or comedy, while leading man Hugh Jackman collected best actor in a musical or comedy for his role as Jean Valjean and Anne Hathaway won best supporting actress for her part as Fantine.

Iran hostage thriller Argo was the surprise best-drama winner, beating Civil War epic Lincoln. Argo also claimed the directing prize for Ben Affleck, but Daniel Day-Lewis collected best actor for his role as Abraham Lincoln.