‘West Side Story’ Wins Three Golden Globe Awards

Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story won three Golden Globes Awards at the online ceremony on Sunday (9 January).

Following the lack of diversity and corruption allegations surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association the ceremony was not televised this year and the winners were announced on the Golden Globes’ website and social media channels.

West Side Story won best musical or comedy film; Rachel Zegler, who stars as Maria, was named best actress; and co-star Ariana DeBose won best supporting actress for her role as Anita.

Rachel Zegler tweeted, “I got cast as Maria in West Side Story on 9 January 2019. And I just won a Golden Globe for that same performance on 9 January 2022. Life is very strange.”

Ariana DeBose, referring to the controversy surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, tweeted, “There is still work to be done, but when you’ve worked so hard on a project, infused with blood, sweat, tears and love, having the work seen and acknowledged is always going to be special.”

Spielberg’s West Side Story was adapted from the 1957 musical

Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story was adapted for the screen from the 1957 Broadway musical which was written by Arthur Laurents with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and conception, direction and choreography by Jerome Robbins. Tony Kushner wrote the new screenplay, Justin Peck created the new choreography, and the iconic score is conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.

Steven Spielberg told Vanity Fair, “Our entire home was festooned with classical musical albums, and I grew up surrounded by classical music. West Side Story was actually the first piece of popular music our family ever allowed into the home. I absconded with it – this was the cast album from the 1957 Broadway musical – and just fell completely in love with it as a kid. West Side Story has been that one haunting temptation that I have finally given in to.”

Other significant Golden Globe winners

Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog also won three Golden Globes – best drama, best director and Kodi Smit-McPhee was named best supporting actor.

Billie Eilish and Finneas won their first Golden Globe, for best original song, motion picture, for their Bond theme No Time To Die.

Other big winners included Will Smith, who was named best drama actor for his performance as the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard, and Nicole Kidman who won best drama actress for her portrayal of Lucille Ball in Being The Ricardos. Andrew Garfield won best actor in a musical or comedy for his role as Jonathan Larson in Tick, tick …Boom!

In the television categories Succession received the best drama award and Hacks was named best comedy. Michaela Jae Rodriguez was named best TV drama actress for her performance in Pose and became the first transgender actress to win a Golden Globe.

Do you want to be the first to hear the latest news from the classical world? Follow uDiscover Classical on Facebook and Twitter.