Paul Giamatti took home Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the 2024 Golden Globes for his performance in The Holdovers. After a hilarious acceptance speech that brought down the house, Giamatti snuck away from the glitz and glamour to grab a burger at In-N-Out.
Giamatti Wins First Golden Globe Since 2006
Giamatti was considered the underdog going into the Globes, up against favorites like Timothée Chalamet and Nicolas Cage. But his soulful performance as a grumpy boarding school teacher won over the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). The Holdovers marks a comeback for Giamatti after years of supporting roles in big-budget films.
“I honestly did not prepare a speech. I thought I’d be sitting in the audience making fart noises while Timothée Chalamet gave his acceptance speech,” Giamatti said to roaring laughter.
This is Giamatti’s first Golden Globe victory since his 2006 win for Cinderella Man.
Dedicates Globe to Teachers in Hilarious Speech
In his acceptance speech, Giamatti thanked his co-star Davine Joy Randolph and the rest of the Holdovers cast and crew. But he reserved his highest praise for teachers:
“Mostly I want to thank teachers, who have one of the toughest, most thankless jobs in this country. This movie is about a teacher, and teachers don’t get enough credit,” Giamatti said.
He went on to joke about some of the antics of his character Mr. Tillman, like drinking whiskey in the classroom.
“I don’t actually recommend doing that if you’re a real teacher. But the whiskeys the Mr. Tillman drinks in the movie are excellent choices. Especially the GlenDronach. Smooth.”
Giamatti’s off-beat humor was a hit with the audience and on social media.
Relationship with Clara Wong Confirmed
Giamatti also used his speech to confirm his relationship with actress Clara Wong:
“I have to thank my girlfriend Clara for putting up with all my nonsense during filming. I love you baby.”
The couple have kept their romance private until now. They reportedly met on the set of last year’s drama Iron Mountain. This surprise announcement spawned many “Claul” fans rooting for the newest celebrity couple.
Heading to In-N-Out for Victory Meal
After his Globes victory, many expected Paul Giamatti to hit up the glamorous after parties with Hollywood elites. But true to his eccentric on-screen persona Mr. Tillman, Giamatti had a humbler celebration in mind.
He stopped by an In-N-Out burger joint near the ceremony, taking photos with excited fans. His order? A Double-Double with fries and a chocolate shake.
Fans praised Giamatti’s humble move as the perfect antidote to the self-congratulatory culture of awards season. They appreciated an A-list celeb like Giamatti enjoying an In-N-Out burger like an average Joe celebrating his accomplishments.
Paul Giamatti's In-N-Out Order
- Double-Double burger
- French fries
- Chocolate shake
What’s Next for Giamatti and “The Holdovers”
This surprise Golden Globes win cements Paul Giamatti’s comeback after years of playing second fiddle. It also puts The Holdovers in prime position for Oscar nominations to be announced on January 24th.
Giamatti and co-star Davine Joy Randolph are likely to earn Lead Actor and Supporting Actress nods. The Holdovers is predicted to contend for Best Picture against heavyweight dramas like Iron Mountain and Chalamet’s multiverse epic Echoes of Eternity.
Giamatti can also be seen later this year opposite Brad Pitt in the action thriller Bullet Train 2, reprising his role as “Ladybug.” And the veteran actor has expressed interest in returning to independent films now that he has some renewed clout in Hollywood.
Teacher Tribute Goes Viral
Paul Giamatti’s callout to underappreciated teachers struck a chord on social media. Many tweets, TikToks and Facebook posts expressed support for boosting teacher pay and respect.
“Can we get some policies that actually help teachers instead of just saying they are important while passing laws that hurt them?” one viral tweet said.
Several teachers shared stories of being overworked and underpaid, hoping Giamatti’s speech draws more attention to their plight. Education groups praised the actor for leveraging his platform to highlight challenges in the profession.
So Paul Giamatti’s Golden Globes acceptance speech may have real-world impact for hard-working and undervalued teachers across the country. His off-beat humor and casual In-N-Out celebration also showed his down-to-earth character. After years doing great supporting work, Giamatti seems poised for leading man success following his big Holdovers win.
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