Sebastian Stan has won his first Golden Globe, taking home the trophy for best actor in a musical or comedy for “A Different Man.”
In his speech, Stan implored viewers to account for social prejudices toward individuals with disabilities. In director Aaron Schimberg’s “A Different Man,” Stan plays Edward, an aspiring actor with neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow on the skin and bone. He stars in the film alongside a standout Adam Pearson, who has neurofibromatosis in real life.
“Aaron Schimberg and Adam Pearson at home, I wish you were here. I share this with you. Thank you for your trust,” Stan began in his acceptance speech. “Our ignorance and discomfort around disability and disfigurement has to end now. We have to normalize it and continue to expose ourselves [and our children] to it. Encourage acceptance. One way we can do that is by continuing to champion stories that are inclusive.”
Stan also gave his other film, “The Apprentice,” a shout-out. He is nominated in the best actor in a drama category for his portrayal of a young Donald Trump in the film.
“This was not an easy movie to make. Neither is ‘The Apprentice,’ the other film that I was lucky to be a part of and that I am proud to be in,” Stan continued. “These are tough subject matters, but these films are real and they are necessary. We can’t be afraid and look away.”
Stan also thanked A24, his team, his manager of 27 years and his mother and stepfather.
“I’m sort of stunned,” Stan told Variety after the nominations were announced last month. “Both films have had such interesting, difficult journeys. We did ‘A Different Man’ two years ago, and it got shelved because of the strike. The fact that we’re still here — and ‘Apprentice’ was a film trying to be made for five years — this is extremely humbling and gratifying.”
Stan is one of three double acting nominees at this year’s awards, joined by Selena Gomez for “Emilia Pérez” and “Only Murders in the Building,” as well as Kate Winslet with “Lee” and “The Regime.” He’d previously been nominated for portraying Tommy Lee (opposite Lily James as Pamela Anderson) in the Hulu series “Pam & Tommy.”
“A Different Man,” from writer-director Schimberg, debuted last year at Sundance. Stan picked up the Silver Bear for best leading performance at the Berlin Film Festival and the film won the best picture prize at the Gotham Awards in the fall.
Also nominated in Stan’s category were Jesse Eisenberg (“A Real Pain”), Hugh Grant (“Heretic”), Gabriel LaBelle (“Saturday Night”), Jesse Plemons (“Kinds of Kindness”) and Glen Powell (“Hit Man”).
See the full list of Golden Globes winners here.
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