Jessica Lange Wins The 2012 Golden Globe for Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

At the 69th Annual Golden Globe awards, held on Sunday, January 15, 2012, Jessica Lange won the 2012 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture Made for Television for her portrayal of Constance Langdon in American Horror Story. The 12 episode first season of American Horror Story premiered on FX on October 5, 2011.  The series tells the story of the Harmon family who move to Los Angeles from Boston after the mother suffers a miscarriage and the father has an affair.  They move into a restored mansion, unaware that the home is haunted by its former inhabitants.  Lange’s character, Constance Langdon, is the Harmon’s neighbor.  Lange has received 11 other Golden Globe nominations and won 4 Golden Globes.  Her other Golden Globe wins include: New Star Actress in 1977 for her role in King Kong,  Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture in 1983 for her role in Tootsie, Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Drama in 1995 for her role in Blue Sky, and Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV film in 1996 for her role in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Other nominees in the category included:

Kelly MacDonald for her portrayal of Margaret Schroeder in Boardwalk Empire.  The second season of Boardwalk Empire aired on HBO from September 25, 2011 through December 11, 2011.  Boardwalk Empire is a period drama focusing on Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (based on the historical Enoch L. Johnson), a political figure who rose to prominence and controlled Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition period of the 1920s and 1930s. MacDonald’s character is the mistress of Enoch “Nucky” Thompson.  This is MacDonald’s third Golden Globe nomination and second consecutive nomination for her Boardwalk Empire role.

Maggie Smith for her portrayal of The Rt Hon Violet, Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey.  Downton Abbey is a British television period drama series set in the fictional Downton Abbey, the Yorkshire country house of the Earl and Countess of Grantham.  The series follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the reign of King George V.  Downton Abbey was aired as a miniseries on PBS in January of 2011.  This is Maggie Smith’s 9th Golden Globe nomination.  She previously won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy in 1978 for her role as Diana Barrie in California Suite and the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in 1986 for her role as Charlotte Bartlett in A Room With A View.

Sofia Vergara for her portrayal of Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on Modern Family, a comedy series on ABC currently in its 3rd season about the Pritchett family.  Gloria is the much younger 2nd wife of the patriarch of the family,  Jay Pritchett played by Ed O’Neill.  This is Sofia Vergara’s second consecutive nomination for her role as Glofia on Modern Family.

Evan Rachel Wood for her portrayal of Veda Pierce in Mildred Pierce. Mildred Pierce is a five-part miniseries that aired on HBO on March 27, 2011.  Mildred Pierce is an adaptation of James M. Cain’s 1941 novel of the same name about an overprotective, self-sacrificing mother during the Great Depression who finds herself separated from her husband, opening a restaurant of her own and falling in love with a new man, all the while trying to earn her narcissistic daughter’s love and respect.  Evan Rachel Wood’s character, Veda Pierce, is the daughter of the main character, Mildred Pierce, portrayed by Kate Winslett.  This is Evan Rachel Wood’s second Golden Globe nomination, she was previously nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture–Drama for her role in the 2003 film, Thirteen.