Women Claim Golden Globe Nominations for Best Director

Female filmmakers emerged as a force this year, with a record number of women occupying three of the five slots for best director. The nomination of first-time filmmakers Emerald Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”) and Regina King (“One Night in Miami”), along with director Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”), was a departure from last year, when the Globes were slammed for snubbing women in the high-profile category.

Favorites like Chadwick Boseman earned much expected recognition. Mr. Boseman is in contention for best actor in a movie drama for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” which includes a scene where his character rails against the idea of a merciful God. It would be a posthumous win for the actor, whose death after a private battle with cancer shocked fans last summer.

On the TV side, new shows that doubled as pandemic binge fare like “Ted Lasso,” “Lovecraft Country” and “The Flight Attendant,” along with crowd pleasers “The Crown,” “Schitt’s Creek” and “Ozark” from pre-Covid days, emerged as strong contenders by the famously quirky Hollywood Foreign Press Association, whose roughly 90 members do the voting.

Streaming services prevailed in a year where many movie theaters remained closed. Netflix showed extra muscle for its marquee picture “Mank,” the film about “Citizen Kane” co-writer Herman J. Mankiewicz. The movie received six nominations—more than any other film—including best movie drama, directing (David Fincher) and best actor in a drama (Gary Oldman).

Amazon Studios picked up seven nods in film contention including three for what might be the polar opposite of “Mank”—the button-pushing humor of Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Borat” sequel: “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.” That includes a nomination for best actress in a movie musical or comedy for Maria Bakalova, an unknown who made a charming star turn as Borat’s guileless but wise daughter.

The morning included first-time acting nominations for lesser-known performers, including Riz Ahmed as a musician who loses his hearing in “Sound of Metal.” Kaley Cuoco was nominated for best performance in a TV series musical or comedy for “The Flight Attendant,” about a woman who wakes up next to a dead man who then visits her in ironic flashbacks. Ms. Cuoco was never nominated for a Globe in her 12 years on “The Big Bang Theory.”

Jason Sudeikis, the “Saturday Night Live” veteran, received a nomination for best actor in a comedy TV series for his performance as the bumbling soccer coach in “Ted Lasso.” It is the first Apple Original comedy series to enter Golden Globes contention.

Oscar-winning director Spike Lee didn’t receive any nominations for his film “Da 5 Bloods,” about four aging veterans who return to Vietnam. Mr. Lee’s son and daughter are slated to appear as this year’s Golden Globe ambassadors to help hand out awards.

Other snubs included the TV series “I May Destroy You” and its creator-star Michaela Coel, as well as Jurnee Smollett in “Lovecraft Country.” Fans pointed out that the much-panned “Emily in Paris” was nominated for best musical or comedy TV series. Snubs continued with “Bridgerton,” the Shonda Rhimes-produced romance series that was a runaway hit for Netflix after its December release but earned no nominations. The surprises persisted with “Hamilton,” whose creator and lead Lin-Manuel Miranda received an acting nomination while co-star Leslie Odom Jr. went unrecognized. The filmed stage performance, also nominated for best comedy or musical movie, helped launch the streamer Disney Plus over the summer.

In directing, Ms. Fennell secured a nod for her controversial #metoo movie “Promising Young Woman,” whose heroine (Carey Mulligan) takes revenge on men who abuse her. Oscar-winning actress Ms. King was recognized for “One Night in Miami,” about Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke and Malcolm X grappling with the civil rights struggle and their own ambitions. Ms. Zhao helmed the critically acclaimed “Nomadland,” a film featuring real nomads that follows Frances McDormand as a retiree hard-hit by the 2008 recession who travels through the American West in her camper van. Ms. McDormand will go up against fellow Globes nominee Ms. Mulligan for best actress in a movie drama.

Movies audiences may not recognize some nominees in a year when many cinemas were closed. Films not yet released, like “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” about the legendary singer’s dealings with the FBI, got two nominations including one for its star, Andra Day. “The Father,” starring Anthony Hopkins as a man with dementia, also doesn’t come out until late February but received nods for best motion-picture drama, lead actor in a drama for Mr. Hopkins and supporting actress in a drama for Olivia Colman.

In the TV categories, the Netflix drama “The Crown” picked up six nominations, more than any other series. The Globes set up a showdown between Ms. Colman as Queen Elizabeth II and Emma Corrin as Diana, Princess of Wales, for best actress in a TV drama, alongside supporting actress nominees Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher and Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret. Like Ms. Colman, newcomer Anya Taylor-Joy received acting nominations in film and television, with nods for best actress in a limited series or movie with “The Queen’s Gambit,” and best actress in a motion-picture musical or comedy with “Emma.”

The ceremony also will honor Norman Lear, the TV sitcom creator known for shows like “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,” with the Carol Burnett Award. Jane Fonda is set to receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award, the highest honor bestowed by the HFPA.

The 78th Golden Globes ceremony airs on Feb. 28. The ceremony, which like other awards shows has been struggling for viewers, will feature co-hosts Tina Fey in New York and Amy Poehler in Los Angeles.

Write to Ellen Gamerman at [email protected]