'Gladiator,' 'Almost Famous' Win Golden Globes

L O S   A N G E L E S, Jan. 21, 2001 -- 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."

Downey seemed to be in good spirits, even before he received the award. After introducing a clip of Wonder Boys, he congratulated Clooney for winning best actor in a comedy film for his role as a convict in O Brother, Where Art Thou? — "even though he didn't have me as a technical adviser."

Downey has to be back in court in a week for a follow-up hearing on his latest drug arrest.

In accepting his award, Clooney referred to fellow nominees Jim Carrey, John Cusack, Robert De Niro and Mel Gibson, and cracked, "What have they done?"

All Hail Gladiator, After Liz Taylor's Near Gaff

Gladiator, which was named best motion picture drama, stars Russell Crowe as an ancient Roman general stripped of his title and reduced to a slave. He returns to Rome as a gladiator to avenge the murder of his family.

Screen legend Elizabeth Taylor nearly flubbed the presentation of the award when she opened the envelope and nearly read the winner before announcing the nominees. Dick Clark had to walk on stage and point her to the TelePrompTer.

"I'm sorry," she joked. "I'm new at this."

In a night when the paparazzi were out in full force as the stars strolled down the red carpet, the real-life Erin Brockovich came on stage to introduce a clip from the movie that bears her name. She praised Julia Roberts' portrayal of her. "The struggle, the emotion, and the cleavage," Brockovich said, "it was great!"

Erin Brockovich is the tale of a legal assistant who takes on a utility company after members of a community are stricken with cancer.

Brockovich, in a revealing royal blue gown, seemed comfortable with her newfound fame. But she said when it came to speaking in front of all the big stars, "I'd rather take on Pacific Gas and Electric again."

Roberts later repaid the compliment when she accepted the award for best actress in a drama. "The real gal is awesome," she said, "and it should be a lesson in that we are all powerful individuals who can make a difference in the world."

No Surprise: Skin Is Still In

Many actresses weren't afraid to show skin. Presenter Heather Locklear of Spin City wore a black gown with sequins and a neckline that plunged nearly to her navel.

Sela Ward, named best actress in a TV drama for Once and Again, wore a long black dress that was backless. It had slits cut at the waist to show her sides, and a plunging neckline, but still managed to look elegant.

Patricia Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond chose a low-cut, long black dress that was accented with a big ruby necklace. "Unless we do Ray's fantasy dream sequence, I'll never look like this on the show," Heaton said.

But presenter Jennifer Lopez was surprisingly demure in a white dress that exposed just one shoulder.

Parker, wearing a shell-pink sarong, said she was happy to be working for HBO. "I am the most contented employee," she gushed. She won for the second consecutive year as best actress in a comedy for Sex and the City.

"I'm ill-prepared again," Parker said. "It's just like high school."

Where's Renee?

Renee Zellweger, who played a delusional soap opera fan in NurseBetty, beat out Sandra Bullock and Oscar-winner Juliette Binoche to be named best actress in a movie comedy.

"Where is she? She's under the table?" asked presenter Hugh Grant. "She's in the bathroom."

"I had lipstick on my teeth!" said a blushing Zellweger, hastily summoned from the ladies' room. "What an amazing thing!"

Winners Make Political Jokes

With the inauguration of a new president only a day earlier, many of the stars had politics on their mind.

"I'd like to congratulate all the nominees. I love their work," said Benicio Del Toro, named best supporting actor in a drama for his role as a Mexican police officer in the drug saga Traffic. "If they want a recount they can talk to my lawyer."

TV president Martin Sheen of NBC's The West Wing said, "I am quite certain that there's been a mistake, but I am going to keep this [the award] until the recount is over."

Sheen, honored as best actor in a TV drama, made a special appeal to Jesse Jackson, who recently admitted having an extramarital affair that resulted in the birth of a daughter: "You're still our hero — and we need you more than ever."

Sheen's President Bartlet character may have been modeled after Bill Clinton, but he wished George W. Bush well, and vowed to continue: "God willing, you're going to have Jeb Bartlet and company to kick around for four more years."

The West Wing also won for best TV drama.

Stars Kiss Godfather's Ring

Two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey presented the Cecil B. DeMille Award to Al Pacino for career achievement.

"Pacino! Pacino!" Spacey repeated, as if it were a magic word, musing that in Italian the name might mean "an individual who stands out in a cast of thousands … There is no one like him."

After highlights of his work in The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, Scent of a Woman and many other films flashed in the auditorium, Pacino thanked the teachers, relatives and fellow actors who taught him about his life and art.

"I love teachers," Pacino said, "They really make lives happen."

Perennial award winner Tom Hanks took home honors for best actor in a drama for his work in Cast Away. He simply added, "Al Pacino must be the best actor in the world."

ABC Radio's Bill Diehl in Los Angeles and ABCNEWS.com's Buck Wolf in New York contributed to this report.