Britain shines at 2020 Golden Globes
The 77th international Golden Globe awards shone a light on Britain’s buzzing film scene, with British-linked productions laying claim to an incredible 40% of the awards announced on 5 January. Series such as Fleabag andThe Crown celebrated alongside motion pictures including the gripping war story 1917 and Elton John biopic Rocketman. With London leading the way for filming locations, visitors can step directly into the world of these award-winning productions…
Discover celebrated British series
The Crown
With three separate nominations for The Crown cast, British actress Olivia Coleman was the stand-out at the awards, winning 'Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama' for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II. Having played roles in the series that follows the royal family through the years from 1964 to 1977, Tobias Menzies and Helena Bonham-Carter were nominated for awards for best performance in the actor and supporting role categories respectively.
Where was it filmed?
There are a host of Crown locations and real-life royal spots to explore when visiting Britain, with the most recent series being shot at stunning locations including the Royal Opera House, Winchester Cathedral, Hylands House in Essex and the De Vere Horsley Estate in Leatherhead.
Alternatively, visitors can enjoy a taste of royal life when they book a tour of the iconic Buckingham Palace, or travel to the historic Tower of London to take a glance at the dazzling crown jewels themselves.
Fleabag, London
Written by and starring London’s sweetheart, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the darkly comedic drama Fleabag was named 'Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy'. Waller-Bridge took the crown for 'Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy' while her co-star Andrew Scott was also nominated for his supporting role.
Where was it filmed?
Both set and filmed in Dartmouth Park in Camden, north-west London, visitors to the area can dine at the real life setting for the Guinea Pig Café, now a thriving Turkish restaurant called Bold Café & Restaurant on York Rise. Alternatively, head on over to Smith & Wollensky in Covent Garden – the luxurious steak restaurant used as the backdrop to the spine-tinglingly awkward family dinner at the start of season two. Those captivated by Andrew Scott’s character can also visit the Parish Church of St Andrew’s, Kingsbury.
Killing Eve, London
No stranger to winning awards, Liverpool-born Jodie Comer was nominated for ‘Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama’ for her role in the second season of AMC/BBC America’s drama Killing Eve. Her co-star Sandra Oh won the award for the same title in 2019.
Where was it filmed?
Having captured audiences since it first aired in 2018, the spy series has featured many iconic British locations, with London the star of the show. Visitors to the city can check out featured locations including the Barbican, known for its iconic Brutalist 1960s architecture, Trafalgar Square, and the Tate Modern. Fans of London’s nightlife may recognise the legendary venue Fabric, which doubled up as the nightclub in Berlin in season one.
Game of Thrones, Northern Ireland
Holding the only nomination for the ground-breaking Game of Thrones series, London-born actor Kit Harrington was up for ‘Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama’, a title taken by Scottish actor Brian Cox for his role in Succession.
Where was it filmed?
It was Northern Ireland that provided some of the most memorable backdrops for the show, including Castle Ward, which doubles as Winterfell. Fans of nature can visit Tollymore Forest Park in County Down, the setting of the Haunted Forest North of the Wall and the home of the Direwolves, while those keen to cross the Dothraki Sea can do so at the Glens of Antrim.
Explore Globe-winning British films
1917
British war film 1917 scooped ‘Best Motion Picture’ in the drama category, with newly-knighted Sir Sam Mendes picking up the ‘Best Director - Motion Picture’ award. The epic conflict movie was also nominated for ‘Best Original Score’ for a motion picture. Featuring a strong cast of British and Irish actors, including Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch, it provided the UK film scene with global recognition.
Where was it filmed?
1917 was filmed on Hankley Common, a nature reserve in Surrey, and at Govan, just outside Glasgow. Visitors wanting to retrace the footsteps of the world-class actors in 1917 can take a relaxed walk in the official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which was used for filming, or get a taste for Britain while walking among Govan’s red sandstone clad Victorian buildings or when grabbing a pint at one of its traditional pubs.
Rocketman
A dazzling biopic based on the life of British musical legend Elton John, Taron Egerton took home the Golden Globe for 'Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy' for his portrayal of the star in Rocketman. Dexter Fletcher’s film also won the award for ‘Best Original Song’ in a motion picture, and was nominated for ‘Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy’.
Where was it filmed?
Filmed in Elton’s birthplace, the north-west London’s suburb of Pinner, visitors can explore where the extravagant opening scene was shot and retrace the footsteps of a young Elton. Another key filming location was London’s famous Regency Café, near Westminster, used to portray the place where Elton and his song writing partner Bernie Taupin first met. Rocketman fans can also scout out the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Academy of Music and the famous Abbey Road Studios for a taste of the star’s musical career.
Other nominated films with stellar British actors included Two Popes with Anthony Hopkins, Late Night with Emma Thompson, Knives Out with Daniel Craig, Catherine the Great starring Helen Mirren, and The Spy played by Sacha Baron-Cohen. Hit series Chernobyl, with Jared Harris and Emily Watson, was also named 'Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture made for Television'.