Stars Get Chatty About Flat Golden Globes

Jan. 14, 2008 — -- The Golden Globe winners weren't gathered together to celebrate their victories, so USA TODAY caught up with some of them:

Joe Wright, who directed drama-film winner Atonement, said he watched the announcement with his cast, "the whole gang of us. We went to a hotel room and watched it on TV. It's a very exciting evening. A great roar went out." If there had been a ceremony, he would have thanked "all the people in the room with me right now. I would have thanked Ian McEwan (who wrote the source novel). I spent the day feeling slightly sick to the stomach with anxiety. And now, I should be spending the evening squeezing my fiancee's hand very tightly with a big smile on my face."

Julian Schnabel, who won best director for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, found out when he turned on his cellphone at baggage claim after landing back in New York City. "It was perfect," he says. "It was very glamorous. It was one of those existential moments. I was extremely happy. I have to thank a lot of people. I need to thank (lead actor) Mathieu Amalric. He gives meaning to the whole thing. … I want to thank Miramax. I want to thank Jean-Dominique Bauby, the guy who wrote the book and died for our sins."

His more formal thanks: "I'd like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for this honor. It's a wonderful year for movies. I'd like to thank Paul Thomas Anderson, who made a great movie. When people make films, people put their guns down. It's an act of peace. They'll work this strike out. The writers should share in this revenue. We should be able to make some peace here. If we can't do it here, how they can they fix the Middle East?"

And now? "I'm gonna eat some spaghetti with my family. I'm home and that's good."

Marion Cotillard, best actress in a musical or comedy for La Vie En Rose, said she didn't expect to win. "We were at the hotel, watching on TV. Everyone around me yelled or shouted, and I just couldn't believe this. It took me a while to jump from the floor."

Marion Cotillard scored best actress in a musical or comedy.

Her thanks would go to: "Olivier Dahan, of course, the director. He has the idea to write something about (Edith Piaf's) life, and he wrote that amazing script and he gave me the greatest adventure, the greatest role really. There are so many people you want to thank. I had an amazing time during the shooting. It was special and unique, the passion of the crew and the other actors. It was really something special. You could feel it on the set."

Is she thinking about the Oscars? "I'm living in the present time, and I don't want to think about this. When you think about this, you don't live in the now."

Brad Bird, director of animation winner Ratatouille, said it "was a real honor to win the award, and I want to thank everyone who worked on the film. Disney, for doing such a magnificent job marketing it and everyone at Pixar for working very hard."

He said it would have been much more fun to be at a ceremony -- "with all of my friends and colleagues and the producer of the film, Brad Lewis, who did a terrific job -- enjoying the show. But given the weirdness of the situation and everything, we're really still just happy we won, and we're not giving it back. I have it on tape that we won, so that's my proof."

Glenn Close, best TV actress/drama for FX's Damages, was in a bar in New York's meatpacking district with the show's cast and crew. "It's a wonderful way to watch -- we were rooting for our team." If she had been there to thank people, she would have said: "I'm so happy to be working with FX. Of course, Dan Zelman, Todd and Glenn Kessler, for creating this character -- to be part of that is thrilling." As for celebrating, she would be "back home with my husband (David Shaw); we're going to have a nice evening."

Glenn Close won best TV actress/drama for FX's Damages.

David Duchovny, TV actor/comedy for Showtime's Californication, said he went to a movie instead of watching the news conference. "It would give me a stomachache. I'm sitting in a dark hotel room now with a glass of wine by myself. It's great for the show. I'm very happy."

David Duchovny got a Globe for his role in Californication.

Who would he have thanked? "The creator of the show. I was really looking forward to thanking my kids (Madelaine, 8, and Kyd, 5) since I haven't won anything since they understood the English language. It would be nice to go on TV and thank them."

Jon Hamm, TV actor/drama for AMC's Mad Men, did watch the show. "AMC decided to host something at the top of the Chateau Marmont. At the penthouse. It's beautiful. It was amazing. It felt special to be surrounded by close friends and family."

He was able to thank everyone there. "I was surrounded by everyone who meant so much to me. The only people I didn't get to thank are the other nominees and the Hollywood Foreign Press."

Among winners releasing statements:

Javier Bardem, supporting film actor, No Country for Old Men: "Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press! It is a great honor to have been recognized with this award in a time when there are so many outstanding performances in this category. I would like to thank the Coens for their trust and for allowing me to be part of their creative process in this incredible project. I want to share this award with Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones and Kelly McDonald and thank Scott Rudin, Miramax and Paramount Vantage."

Javier Bardem won best supporting actor for No Country for Old Men.

Cate Blanchett, supporting film actress, I'm Not There: "I wish circumstances would allow me to be there. Firstly thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press for this recognition. I'd like to thank above all else Todd Haynes for his flair, his chutzpah and his vision. As this is a true ensemble piece, I share this totally with Christian Bale, Marcus Carl Franklin, Heath Ledger, Richard Gere and Ben Whishaw. And of course none of this would be possible without the great man himself, Bob Dylan, wherever you are, whoever you are, I thank you deeply."

Cate Blanchett got a Globe for her role in I'm Not There.

Contributing: Anthony Breznican