Movie and television stars turned out in Los Angeles for the annual Golden Globes, a high-profile Hollywood award recognizing the year's best achievements in film and television.
The French silent film, The Artist, and the family drama, The Descendents, took home the top film prizes.
The Artist won the most prizes with three wins – best musical or comedy, best actor in a musical or comedy for Jean Dujardin, and best original score.
The Descendents claimed two awards — best drama and best dramatic actor for George Clooney.
Veteran actor Meryl Streep took home the award for best dramatic actress for her turn as Margaret Thatcher in Iron Lady, while
Michelle Williams won best actress in a musical or comedy for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn.
Homeland earned the best TV drama award and Modern Family walked away with best TV comedy.
Morgan Freeman was presented with the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille award for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment. Past winners of the DeMille have included Sidney Poitier, who presented the award to Freeman, Alfred Hitchcock, Sean Connery and Lucille Ball.
The first prize of the evening, for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, went to Christopher Plummer for his role as the father in the American romantic-comedy The Beginners.
Soon after, Downton Abbey, a popular British television series about an aristocratic family and their servants in the years leading up to World War I, won the prize for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
Comedian Ricky Gervais hosted the gala event Sunday, that was broadcast live in more than 160 countries. It is the third year hosting for the star, known for his caustic humor and frequent jabs at fellow celebrities.
The Golden Globes are given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and are considered second in prestige to the Academy Awards. The Globes are often viewed as a barometer for who will win Oscars.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association uses the awards as a fundraising event for entertainment-related charities. Last year, the awards enabled the association to donate $1.2 million dollars to fund scholarships and other programs.
