'Gladiator,' 'Almost Famous' Win Golden Globes

L O S   A N G E L E S, Jan. 21 -- It was a night for rockers and Romans at the Golden Globe Awards as Gladiator and Almost Famous took top honors.

"I want to thank my mom who let me go on the road with Led Zeppelin at the age of 16," said writer/director Cameron Crowe as he accepted the best motion picture, comedy or musical, award for Almost Famous.

"I convinced her they were nice fellows," he said. The movie is based on his personal experiences as a teenager reporting for Rolling Stone magazine.

"This is so intense," said Kate Hudson, who won the best supporting actress award for her role as a groupie in the film.

Hudson, the daughter of Goldie Hawn, wore a black slip dress with spaghetti straps. She thanked her new husband, Black Crowes lead singer Chris Robinson, as well as her parents, for "their love and support."

Big Night for Big Stars

The Golden Globes, given by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, honor film and TV. The event is largely seen as a precursor to the Oscars, the film industry's highest honors, which will be presented March 25.

While no one film or TV show dominated the awards as they have in past years, several familiar faces took a turn at the podium. Big winners included Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and George Clooney.

In TV, Frasier star Kelsey Grammer and Sex and the City beauty Sarah Jessica Parker won best actor and best actress in a comedy series.

One of the big surprises of the evening came when Robert Downey Jr. took home the supporting actor honor for his comeback role on Ally McBeal.

It was a big question before the ceremony whether Downey would appear at all. He had evaded reporters and the public at his last court hearing a few weeks ago on drug charges. But sporting an all-black outfit — including a black bow tie, shirt and jacket with velvet lapels — he looked very much the Hollywood star.

While thanking his fellow cast members and show creator David E. Kelley, he said, "I will do my best to not be sent back to the factory."