“Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Angelina Jolie – oh my God, there have been so many,” said a young waiter at the front of the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton just after 4pm on Sunday afternoon.
The server, carrying a tray of spring water, listed all the divas and star actresses who had already shown up for the 2025 Golden Globes, which serves as the unofficial start of the annual awards derby.
If the Oscars are a memorial service for the year that was, the Globes are the ball, a vibrant, fun party – and a product placement tool for fashion companies – where it feels appropriate for actor Jeremy Strong to show up in a sea-foam green suit and matching bucket hat from Loro Piana.
“Everyone’s celebrating, everyone’s relaxed,” said Dwayne Johnson, who stood a few feet away from Mr. Strong waiting for his turn for an interview with E! Entertainment Television.
He wore a light purple Dolce & Gabbana suit paired with a violet silk shirt that was left open almost to his navel, showing off his prominent chest tattoo.
“Just made it,” said Mr. Johnson.
In front of Mr. Johnson on the carpet, interviewed by another outlet, was Colin Farrell, who stood among a cavalcade of stars in custom Louis Vuitton. His hair had been turned a brown-orange shade rarely seen anywhere east of Sunset Boulevard, but that wouldn’t hurt him here: he’d win the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Movie. for TV for his role in ‘The Penguin’.
Cate Blanchett ripped down the press line in a gold beaded Vuitton dress. Zendaya posed in a saffron floor-length Vuitton dress with matching satin pumps, and on her left ring finger was a large diamond ring that she kept quiet about.
Emma Stone marched up, wearing a new pixie cut and a sleeveless, ruby red, long Vuitton dress that cinched at the waist. Right behind Ms. Stone was Cynthia Erivo, who was nominated in the best actress in a musical or comedy category for her role in “Wicked.” Ms. Erivo’s custom Vuitton dress was black and silver, with hand embroidery, silver sequins and a dramatic waist.
From behind the barricades, reporters beckoned to Ms. Erivo and shouted the names of the media they worked for. One was from the local NBC affiliate. Another came from the student newspaper at Beverly Hills High School.
In the ballroom, Margaret Qualley introduced people to her date.
“This is my dad,” she said, referring to former model Paul Qualley.
Actor Glen Powell stood right behind her and introduced the guests to Cyndy Powell, his mother.
Nikki Glaser delivered her opening monologue, calling it “Ozempic’s biggest night.”
Shortly afterwards, many guests appeared to be hanging out not in the ballroom, where the awards ceremony was taking place, but next door, at an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet.
Tilda Swinton set herself a plate. Ms. Stone walked to the bar, where she ordered drinks for a group of friends.
One moment, a slew of publicists and journalists were ogling actor Édgar Ramírez at the dessert table. Apparently he was on stage the next day to present the award for Best Actor in a Drama Film.
The show ended just after 8 p.m., and many seemed less tipsy this year and in years past. A party took place in an event space next to the ballroom, but few stars (if any) went there.
Instead, they streamed toward the exits, heading for a slew of nearby bashes.
The cast and crew of ‘Emilia Pérez’, which took home the award for best film, musical or comedy, visited the Italian restaurant Spago for a party organized by distributor Netflix.
That was also Ms. Swinton’s first stop, though she spent a long time in the lobby of the Beverly Hilton texting her driver, who struggled to navigate a series of police barricades and security checkpoints.
“That’s what happens,” Ms Swinton said. “You wait and you hope it comes and you check your emails and then it’s all fine.”
Actress Naomi Watts waited on the sidewalk in front of her before heading to the Creative Artists Agency party at Chateau Marmont.
And Elle and Dakota Fanning drove to the party hosted by Walt Disney Studios at Funke, an Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills.
Ryan Murphy held court at a table in the back of Funke. At the front was actress Amy Adams, nominated for her role in ‘Nightbitch’. A DJ played disco classics by Diana Ross and Melba Moore. Waiters walked around the room serving meatballs and cacio e pepe to the likes of Edward Norton and Jesse Eisenberg.
Upstairs, actor Anthony Mackie posed for photos with friends in a photo booth. Earlier in the evening, Mr Mackie had presented an award together with Harrison Ford.
Mr. Mackie had been audible. Mr. Ford, not so much.
“He’s been a movie star for so long that he’s not even bothered by the fact that he’s a movie star anymore,” Mr. Mackie shrugged. (All this was apparently delivered as a compliment.)
In walked Kieran Culkin, who won a trophy last year for his role in the television show ‘Succession’ and this year was holding the gold trophy he had picked up a few hours earlier for his role in ‘A Real Pain’, which is written and directed by Mr. Eisenberg, who also co-starred in it.
“Every time this year he gets the awards,” Mr. Eisenberg said with a laugh.
The trophy was heavy.
“I think it’s eight pounds, maybe ten,” said Mr. Culkin, handing it over for examination.
