Golden Globes 2025: Colin Farrell Makes History as the Fourth Actor to Win the Award After Marvel Legend for ‘The Penguin’

The 82nd Golden Globe Awards were held on January 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Comedian Nikki Glaser became the first female solo host of the ceremony. Morris Chestnut and Mindy Kaling announced the nominees during a press conference on December 9, 2024. For his exceptional work on The Penguin, Irish actor Colin Farrell won the Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Pictures Made for Television.

The Penguin has been regarded as one of the best television shows of 2024, with critics and audiences praising the writing, direction, tone, and performances. Farrell and Milioti have been lauded for their exceptional acting skills. Colin Farrell once again proved that all those words of appreciation were worth it as he went on to create history recently.

Colin Farrell wins Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Limited Series for The Penguin

Developed by Lauren LeFranc, DC Studios’ The Penguin is a crime drama TV miniseries starring Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, and more. Based on the DC Comic character of the same name, The Penguin is a spin-off to Matt Reeves’ The Batman and follows the rise of Oz Cobb in Gotham City’s criminal underworld.

Colin Farrell was announced as one of the actors vying for Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Pictures Made for Television. On January 5, 2025, the actor became the fourth comic book character actor, after Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix, and Angela Bassett, to win the award. (via People) Bassett won Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for Marvel Studios’ Black Panther in 2023.

Farrell’s acting in The Penguin not only impressed the audience but forced the critics to bow down too. The miniseries holds a 95% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics stating that The Penguin might be one of Farrell’s finest works. The way he was able to transform into a classic DC villain and convince the audience that he is indeed The Penguin they’ve been reading about speaks volumes.

Viewers and critics also mentioned at the time that the actor brings something dark and gritty to the character that they had not seen earlier, which is what makes his Cobb superior. Thus, it’s justified why he managed to beat Richard Gadd, Kevin Kline, Cooper Koch, Ewan McGregor, and Andrew Scott to win the Golden Globe.

Upon receiving the award, he joked and said that he had no one to thank but himself before he went on to thank the makeup artist Michael Marino and his team.

All it took was three hours in the chair in the morning. I drank black coffee, listened to ‘80s music, and became a canvas for that team’s brilliance. I guess it’s prosthetics from here on out.

The actor also went on to thank the creative team of The Penguin, his co-stars, along with the craft service team on the show. This is Colin Farrell’s second Golden Globe Award out of four nominations.

Colin Farrell calls Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix as ‘extraordinarily brilliant artists’

The Penguin’s success has brought actor Colin Farrell massive attention and support from the audience, who believe that the actor’s work on the show was spot-on [No one’s denying that].

And now, with winning the Golden Globe for Best Limited Series Actor, he joins the small circle of actors who have earned a Golden Globe for playing comic book villains.

The actor went on to address the same when, during a press conference post-ceremony (via Variety), he was asked about joining the ranks of the late Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix. He said.

You mentioned two actors who are, I think, for my money, two of the most extraordinarily talented, gifted, and just brilliant artists in films that I’ve ever had the fortune to observe and be affected by. What Heath did in Chris Nolan’s Dark Knight was extraordinary and will live on for future generations.

He mentioned further that what Phoenix did with Joker was exemplified by all the awards that he won at the Oscars. He noted that he was extraordinary. Farrell added that it was so special, and to have his name just uttered in the same sentences as them is lovely but added that he is more of a fan.

Farrell noted that he does not feel that he’s a part of that pantheon and went on to once again mention the two actors as extraordinary and honest. He also added that he is just grateful that he gets to work most of the time with people who he ends up having a real affection for. He said he feels immense gratitude for everything he has.

The Penguin is available to stream on HBO.