'Closer' actors win early Golden Globes

Natalie Portman with her Golden Globe Award for best supporting actress in Closer. Picture / Reuters

The adultery drama "Closer" pulled off a pair of upsets to start Hollywood's Golden Globe Awards on Sunday as Natalie Portman and British actor Clive Owen won the honors for their supporting roles.

A stunned Portman, who portrays an American stripper living in London, thanked her family, co-stars and the film's director, Mike Nichols.

"Being among all these candidates, I had no expectation of this," she said, barely able to come up with the words to say thanks.

Owen also thanked Nichols, as well as his co-stars, Portman, Julia Roberts and Jude Law.

"Any actor knows you're only as good as the scene you're in; so a huge part of this belongs to Jude, Julia and Natalie," he said.

Portman's rivals for the Globe were Cate Blanchett ("The Aviator"), Laura Linney ("Kinsey"), Virginia Madsen (Sideways") and Meryl Streep ("The Manchurian Candidate").

Owen beat David Carradine ("Kill Bill - Vol. 2"), Thomas Haden Church ("Sideways"), Jamie Foxx ("Collateral") and Morgan Freeman ("Million Dollar Baby").

It was an unexpected start to one of Hollywood's most glamorous nights.

The Golden Globes, given out by about 90 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are seen around the world and often provide hints on which films might go on to Oscars, the top film honors in the United States given in February by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

In the past, many winners here have also earned Oscars, and this year the race for awards has been particularly wide open, with several films competing for top honors.

- REUTERS