Stephen Graham has revealed that the celebrations surrounding his Golden Globe win were short-lived after the actor managed to lose the award just hours after receiving it — following a frantic dash between international flights.
The Liverpool-born actor picked up Best Actor in a TV Mini-Series at the Golden Globe Awards on January 11 for his critically acclaimed performance in the Netflix drama Adolescence, a role that has already earned him widespread praise on both sides of the Atlantic. The win marked a major career milestone for Graham, who also secured an Emmy Award for the same role, further cementing his status as one of Britain’s most respected screen actors.
@goldenglobes The incredible Stephen Graham of Adolescence accepts the award for Best Male Actor – Television – Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Motion Picture! ⭐️ #GoldenGlobes ♬ original sound - Golden Globes
However, the night’s triumph quickly turned into a logistical nightmare. Speaking about the incident, Graham explained that he had to leave Los Angeles almost immediately after the ceremony due to filming commitments abroad.
“I had to go straight from LA the day after [the Golden Globes] to Madrid as I had to be on set the next day,” he said. “I had 35 minutes to catch the plane.”
What followed was a chaotic airport transfer that ultimately separated the actor from his newly won trophy. “As I came off the plane, a woman took me down the stairs, threw me in a car, and drove me across the runway,” Graham recalled. “But all I’m thinking is, ‘my case isn’t going to make it’.”
Despite reassurances from airport staff, his fears proved justified. “I said, ‘excuse me, there’s no way you’re getting my suitcase on this plane if I’m in a car now’, and (the staff member) was like ‘Oh no, don’t worry, we’ll take care of it’. The case didn’t make the plane and it was left in Atlanta.”
When asked what exactly had been inside the missing suitcase, Graham joked: “My socks, my pants, my toothbrush… and a Golden Globe.” He added: “I never left it, I put it in my case – it’s heavy, I wasn’t carrying that in my hand luggage.”
@capitalofficial Imagine mixing up your luggage with Stephen in this situ! Watch ‘A Thousand Blows’ on @disneyplusuk now! #stephengraham #goldenglobes #athousandblows #malachikirby #adolescence ♬ original sound - Capital
Thankfully, the story did have a happy ending, with Graham confirming he was reunited with the award two days later, after the luggage finally caught up with him.
The mishap hasn’t dampened what has been a landmark year for the actor. Adolescence has been one of Netflix’s most talked-about drama releases, praised for its raw portrayal of youth, violence and social breakdown, with Graham’s performance widely described as the emotional anchor of the series. For Irish audiences, the show has also resonated strongly, mirroring ongoing conversations around youth crime and social inequality.
Known for standout roles in This Is England, Line of Duty, Boardwalk Empire and Boiling Point, Graham has long been regarded as a powerhouse performer — though major awards recognition had previously eluded him. Losing, and then recovering, his Golden Globe has only added another chapter to what is already shaping up to be one of the most memorable moments of his career.
Timothée Chalamet was among the main winners as Hollywood's finest gathered for this year's Golden Globe Awards. He beat stars including Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney to the award for best actor in a musical or comedy for Marty Supreme. Despite DiCaprio missing out, his film One Battle After Another won the most awards overall, with four prizes including best musical or comedy film and best director.
Irish actress Jessie Buckley was named best drama actress for Hamnet, which also scored a surprise win in the best drama film category.
@goldenglobes Jessie Buckley... the star that you are Congrats on your #GoldenGlobes ♬ original sound - Golden Globes
Sinners had been considered the frontrunner, but it instead went home with the box office achievement prize as well as best score.
The Golden Globes are a key stop on the road to the Academy Awards, and other acting winners on Sunday included Teyana Taylor, Rose Byrne, Wagner Moura and Stellan Skarsgård.
Owen Cooper became one of the youngest Golden Globe Awards winners of all-time at the age of 16 for his work in Netflix's Adolescence (created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne). The teenage actor was recognized in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie category. He sweetly thanked his parents as he opened up about how much his role on the series changed their lives. He said: “What an incredible journey me and my family have been put through. We are forever grateful for what these people have done for me and my family.” The talented actor also ended his speech with a shout-out to his beloved Liverpool FC, telling the audience “You’ll never walk alone”.
@goldenglobes CONGRATULATIONS, Owen Cooper! Let's hear it for our #GoldenGlobes ♬ original sound - Golden Globes
Best Motion Picture, Drama
Frankenstein
Hamnet - WINNER
It Was Just an Accident
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Blue Moon
Bugonia
Marty Supreme
No Other Choice
Nouvelle Vague
One Battle After Another - WINNER
Best Director, Motion Picture
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another - WINNER
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein
Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
Chloe Zhao – Hamnet
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet - WINNER
Jennifer Lawrence – Die, My Love
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Julia Roberts – After the Hunt
Tessa Thompson – Hedda
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I'd Kick You - WINNER
Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good
Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another
Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee
Emma Stone – Bugonia
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture
Emily Blunt – The Smashing Machine
Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan – Weapons - WINNER
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams
Oscar Isaac – Frankenstein
Dwayne Johnson – The Smashing Machine
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent - WINNER
Jeremy Allen White – Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Lee Byung-hun – No Other Choice
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme - WINNER
George Clooney – Jay Kelly
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
Jesse Plemons – Bugonia
@goldenglobes The #GoldenGlobes ♬ original sound - Golden Globes
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture
Benicio Del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Paul Mescal – Hamnet
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value - WINNER
Best Screenplay, Motion Picture
Hamnet
It Was Just an Accident
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another - WINNER
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Best Original Score, Motion Picture
F1: The Movie
Frankenstein
Hamnet
One Battle After Another
Sinners - WINNER
Sirat
Best Original Song, Motion Picture
Avatar: Fire and Ash – Dream as One
KPop Demon Hunters – Golden - WINNER
Sinners – I Lied to You
Train Dreams – Train Dreams
Wicked: For Good – No Place Life Home
Wicked: For Good – The Girl in the Bubble
Best Motion Picture, Animated
Arco
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie
Elio
KPop Demon Hunters - Winner
Little Amelie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2
Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language
It Was Just an Accident
No Other Choice
The Secret Agent - Winner
Sentimental Value
Sirat
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Golden Globe for Cinematic & Box Office Achievement
Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1: The Movie
KPop Demon Hunters
Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning
Sinners - WINNERS
Weapons
Wicked: For Good
Zootopia 2
@goldenglobes George Clooney presents the last award of the night for Best Picture – Drama ... supported from afar by Don Cheadle #GoldenGlobes ♬ original sound - Golden Globes
Best Television Series, Drama
Andor
The Pitt - WINNER
Pluribus
Severance
Slow Horses
The White Lotus
Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Hacks
Nobody Wants This
Only Murders in the Building
The Studio - WINNER
The Chair Company
Best Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture made for Television
Adolescence - WINNER
All Her Fault
The Beast in Me
Black Mirror
Dying for Sex
The Girlfriend
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Drama
Kathy Bates – Matlock
Britt Lower – Severance
Helen Mirren – Mob Land
Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us
Kerri Russell – The Diplomat
Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus - WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy
Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This
Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building
Natasha Leone – Poker Face
Jenna Ortega – Wednesday
Jean Smart – Hacks - WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture made for Television
Claire Danes – The Beast in Me
Rashida Jones – Black Mirror
Amanda Seyfried – Long Bright River
Sarah Snook – All Her Fault
Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex - WINNER
Robin Wright – The Girlfriend
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Television Series, Musical, Comedy or Drama
Carrie Coon – The White Lotus
Erin Doherty – Adolescence - WINNER
Hanna Einbinder – Hacks
Catherine O’Hara – The Studio
Parker Posey – The White Lotus
Amy Lou Wood – The White Lotus
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, Drama
Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
Diego Luna – Andor
Gary Oldman – Slow Horses
Mark Ruffalo – Task
Adam Scott – Severance
Noah Wyle – The Pitt - WINNER
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy
Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This
Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building
Glen Powell – Chad Powers
Seth Rogen – The Studio - WINNER
Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White – The Bear
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture made for Television
Jacob Elordi – The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Paul Giamatti – Black Mirror
Stephen Graham – Adolescence - WINNER
Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Jude Law – Black Rabbit
Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Television Series, Musical, Comedy or Drama
Owen Cooper – Adolescence - WINNER
Billy Crudup – The Morning Show
Walton Goggins – The White Lotus
Jason Isaac – The White Lotus
Tramell Tillman – Severance
Ashley Walters – Adolescence
Best Performance in a Stand-up Comedy on Television
Bill Mahr – Is Anyone Else Seeing This?
Brett Goldstein – Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life
Kevin Hart – Acting My Age
Kumail Nanjiani – Night Thoughts
Ricky Gervais – Mortality - WINNER
Sarah Silverman – Sarah Silverman: PostMortem
Best Podcast
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Call Her Daddy
Good Hang with Amy Poehler - WINNER
The Mel Robbins Podcast
SmartLess
Up First
@cbs Wanda Sykes, please never change ↕️ #GoldenGlobes #WandaSykes ♬ original sound - CBS
