Rocketman’s Taron Egerton wins Golden Globe for best actor in musical, comedy

The same as last year, the Golden Globes gave out a major acting award to someone who starred in a musical biopic about a legendary singer.

Taron Egerton, who portrayed Elton John in Rocketman, took home his first Golden Globe during the awards ceremony on Sunday in the category of Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. In 2019, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association honored Rami Malek for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. Clearly, rocker musicals are still in vogue with the HFPA.

The 30-year-old, who got his standout mainstream moment in the Kingsman franchise, was nominated alongside Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), Eddie Murphy (Dolemite Is My Name), Daniel Craig (Knives Out), and Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit).

“I’m honored to be nominated alongside such legitimate icons and also Roman, who is the sweetest kid, who gave such an incredible performance in Jojo, and I’m honored to be nominated alongside him, too. Go on, Roman!” Egerton said. “This role has changed my life. It’s been the best experience of my life. I’m so proud of this film.”

The actor also acknowledged the applause given to John and Bernie Taupin when they presented an award earlier in the night. “It’s just such a joyous thing,” he said of the moment.

Egerton thanked, in addition to others, Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher for “a movie I will be proud of for the rest of my life,” producer Mathew Vaughn (The Kingsman director) for giving him opportunities, and the film’s producer and John’s husband David Furnish “for allowing me to believe I was the man to play your husband.”

“And finally to Elton John,” he added. “Thank you for the music, thank you for living a life less ordinary, and thank you for being my friend. Finally… my mother is in here. This one is for you, mom.”

Rocketman, more of a musical fantasy and less of a standard biopic, took audiences on a trip through the life of John, from his childhood and past his struggles with love and drugs. Egerton came into this awards race at a disadvantage. Rocketman was released in theaters in May, far before the other contenders in the category, meaning he had to campaign even harder to stay on the forefront of voters’ minds. But he did it.

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See the full list of winners here.

Related content:

• See all the stars at the 2020 Golden Globes
• Elton John celebrates ‘first time’ awards win with longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin at Golden Globes
• Ricky Gervais riffs on Felicity Huffman and Judi Dench’s nether region in biting Golden Globes monologue

Elton John biopic ‘Rocketman’ stars Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, and Bryce Dallas Howard.

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