There was disappointment for Irish hopefuls Brendan Gleeson, Wolfwalkers and Normal People at the Golden Globes in the US, with Netflix's The Crown the big winner on a night that saw Chadwick Boseman posthumously honoured with Best Actor for his performance in the film Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Brendan Gleeson had been nominated as Best Supporting Actor in the television categories for his portrayal of US President Donald Trump in The Comey Rule. The award went to John Boyega for his performance in Small Axe - another drama based on a true story.

Kilkenny's Cartoon Saloon had been nominated for Best Animated Film for Wolfwalkers, but the award went to Pixar's Soul on the night.

Disappointment for the Irish hopefuls

Normal People - made by Dublin company Element Pictures - and its British star Daisy Edgar-Jones had been shortlisted in the limited series categories, losing out to The Queen's Gambit and its star Anya Taylor-Joy.

The late Chadwick Boseman's Best Actor award was accepted by his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward.

In the most powerful and emotional speech of the night, she said her late husband would thank God, his parents, his ancestors and those he worked with on music drama Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

"He would say something beautiful; something inspiring; something that would amplify that little voice inside all of us that tells you: you can; that tells you to keep going; that calls you back to what you are meant to be doing at this moment in history," she added.

Films and series inspired by actual events and portrayals of real-life people dominated this year's awards.

The Crown, which includes Irish woman Oona O'Beirn among its producers, was named Best Drama, with its stars, Josh O'Connor, Emma Corrin and Gillian Anderson honoured for their roles as Britain's Prince Charles, Lady Diana Spencer and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, respectively.

In her acceptance speech, Corrin said: "Thank you so much to Diana. You have taught me compassion and empathy beyond anything I could ever imagine."

John Boyega was among the winners in the miniseries categories for his performance as former Metropolitan Police officer Leroy Logan in Steve McQueen's anthology Small Axe.

In the film categories, Andra Day won Best Actress for her performance as singer Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

Daniel Kaluuya's portrayal of Black Panthers leader Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah saw him win Best Supporting Actor. Best Screenplay went to Aaron Sorkin for his factual drama The Trial of the Chicago 7.

Nomadland was named Best Motion Picture - Drama, with its director Chloé Zhao winning Best Director. Zhao is the first Asian woman to win Best Director and only the second female filmmaker to receive the honour, following in the footsteps of Yentl's Barbra Streisand. 

There were also two wins for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for writer and star Sacha Baron Cohen.

The ceremony saw Golden Globes organiser The Hollywood Foreign Press Association respond to criticism about the lack of diversity among its voting members, and pledge to improve its inclusivity. In her speech, Cecil B De Mille Award recipient Jane Fonda told Hollywood to "expand that tent" with diversity.

The 2021 Golden Globe Pre-Show will air on RTÉ2 at 9pm on Monday, March 1, followed by highlights from The 2021 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards at 9.30pm.

The winners in full:

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
Daniel Kaluuya - Judas and the Black Messiah

Daniel Kaluuya (centre) as Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
John Boyega - Small Axe

John Boyega as Leroy Logan in Small Axe

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Catherine O'Hara - Schitt's Creek

Catherine O'Hara with Eugene Levy in Schitt's Creek

Best Motion Picture - Animated
Soul

Soul

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Mark Ruffalo - I Know This Much Is True

Mark Ruffalo in I Know This Much Is True

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Aaron Sorkin - The Trial of the Chicago 7

Writer-director Aaron Sorkin on the set of The Trial of the Chicago 7

Carol Burnett Award
Norman Lear

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
Emma Corrin - The Crown

Emma Corrin as Lady Diana Spencer with Josh O'Connor as Prince Charles in The Crown

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Io Si (Seen) from The Life Ahead - Diane Warren, Laura Pausini, Niccolò Agliardi

We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Soul - Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste

We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Jason Sudeikis - Ted Lasso

Jason Sudeikis in Ted Lasso

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Schitt's Creek

Schitt's Creek

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Rosamund Pike - I Care a Lot

Rosamund Pike in I Care a Lot

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
Josh O'Connor - The Crown

Josh O'Connor as Prince Charles in The Crown

Best Motion Picture - Foreign Language
Minari

(L-R) Alan S Kim and Steven Yeun in Minari

Best Television Series - Drama
The Crown

Gillian Anderson as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Stephen Boxer as Denis Thatcher in Netflix's The Crown

Cecil B DeMille Award
Jane Fonda

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
Jodie Foster - The Mauritanian

Jodie Foster on the set of The Mauritanian

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Supporting Role
Gillian Anderson - The Crown

Gillian Anderson as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Crown

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Anya Taylor-Joy - The Queen's Gambit

Anya Taylor-Joy in The Queen's Gambit

Best Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television
The Queen's Gambit

The Queen's Gambit

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Chadwick Boseman - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Best Director
Chloé Zhao - Nomadland

(L-R) Director Chloé Zhao, cinematographer Joshua James Richards and star Frances McDormand on location for Nomadland

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Sacha Baron Cohen in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy 
Sacha Baron Cohen - Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Sacha Baron Cohen and Maria Bakalova in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Andra Day - The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Andra Day in The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Best Motion Picture - Drama
Nomadland

Frances McDormand in Nomadland