Matthew Macfadyen Wins Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor

To say anyone “won” at the end of “Succession” is a stretch, but there’s no denying who came out on top at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards. Matthew Macfadyen, who played the eternal shit-eater (turned CEO) Tom Wambsgans on HBO’s drama, took home the trophy for Best Supporting Actor. It was his first nomination and thus, his first win.

At the Golden Globes, the Supporting Actor race isn’t divided between Comedy and Drama contenders. There’s only one category for all supporting stars, meaning Macfadyen beat out not only his nominated co-stars, Alan Ruck and Alexander Skarsgård, as well as Billy Crudup’s dramatic performance in “The Morning Show,” but also Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“The Bear”) and James Marsden (“Jury Duty”), whose roles land them in the comedy categories at other awards shows. Thankfully, that means no one can whine about whether Macfadyen’s colorful quips should’ve forced voters to judge him against fellow comic turns, or if his devastating fights with fellow nominee Sarah Snook placed his work firmly in dramatic territory. He is simply the Best Support Actor — no qualifier needed.

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While this is Macfadyen’s first time contending at the Golden Globes, he already won an Emmy and is nominated for the third time this year. (The Emmys, which typically are held in September, were delayed to accommodate the SAG and WGA strikes and will be held Monday, January 15 at 8pm ET on Fox. “Succession” is considered the frontrunner in many categories.) Macfadyen also won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2022, as part of the “Succession” ensemble, and will be a top contender this year, when nominations are announced January 10. He’s also a three-time BAFTA Award nominee and two-time winner (for “Succession” in 2022 and “Criminal Justice” in 2010).

Macfadyen will next be seen alongside Nicole Kidman and Rachel Sennott in Mimi Cave’s feature film, “Holland, Michigan,” as well as a little Marvel movie titled “Deadpool 3,” starring one of the titular guys from “Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place” and our literal Greatest Showman.

The 81st Golden Globe Awards were held Sunday, January 7 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. Dick Clark Productions, which owns and produces the Golden Globes, is a Penske Media company. PMC is also IndieWire’s parent company.

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