Photo: Rich Polk/NBC via Getty
Austin Butleris the king of rock ‘n’ roll — and of theGolden Globes.
At the award show on Tuesday night, Butler, 31, won best actor in a drama for his performance asElvis Presleyin Baz Luhrmann’sElvis. This is his first Golden Globe win and first nomination.
The other nominees in the category were Brendan Fraser (The Whale), Hugh Jackman (The Son), Bill Nighy (Living) and Jeremy Pope (The Inspection).
“Oh man, all my words are leaving me,” he began his speech. “I just I’m so grateful right now I’m in this room full of my heroes.”
Among those heroes includes his formerOnce Upon a Time… in HollywoodcostarBrad Pitt. With that in mind, Butler took a moment to give Pitt, 59, a shoutout.
“Brad, I love you,” he said before continuing to acknowledge of industry legends he admires. “Quentin [Tarantino], I printed out thePulp Fictionscript when I was 12. I cannot believe I’m here right now.”
Butler then continued to thank those who helped him to get to where he is now, and expressed his gratitude for the other nominees.
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“I just want to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for this honor. I will also say to my fellow nominees, you have turned in the most beautiful, profound work, and I am so honored and proud to be listed among you,” he said.
“I owe this to a bold, visionary filmmaker who allowed me the experience to take risks and I always knew I would be supported,” he said, referencingElvisdirectorBaz Luhrmann. “Baz Luhrmann, I love you. Thank you for believing in me in those moments that I didn’t even believe in myself. I’m so grateful to I also want to thank my dance partner, the greatest dance partner I could have ever hoped for Mr.Tom Hanks, thank you.”
Butler then thankedDenzel Washingtonfor his “generosity in championing” him, ultimatelyplacing the call to Lurhmann, 60, to help him get the part. “I’m so grateful for all eternity to you,” he added.
“Lastly, Elvis Presley, himself, you were an icon and a rebel,” Butler said. “And I love you so much.”
Back in May, Butler said his transformation into the late music legend was so intense that when he completed filming back in March 2021, hebecame hospitalized and bedriddenfor a week. According toBritishGQ, Butler was diagnosed with a virus that simulates appendicitis.
“The next day I woke up at 4 in the morning with excruciating pain, and I was rushed to hospital,” he told the magazine. “My body just started shutting down the day after I finishedElvis.”
Director Luhrmann, 60, added about Butler’s performance, “Look, I’ve worked with every kind of actor and every kind of performer. And I accept that they have freak-outs, that’s okay. But Austin, he doesn’t freak out. He has the most polite panic of anyone I’ve ever met.”
Butler also explained the emotional reason he was able to connect to Presley on a deeper level.
“His mother passed away when he was 23, and my mom passed away when I was 23. So when I learned that, it was one of those things where I got chills, and I just thought, ‘Okay, I can connect to that,’ " he said, later adding, “I’ve never loved somebody I’venevermet more than Elvis.”
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The 80th Golden Globe Awards ceremony is airing live on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
source: people.com
