Golden Globes shine on Australia

Russell Crowe picked up a Globe for his schizophrenic act in "A Beautiful Mind"

SYDNEY, Australia -- Australians are basking in Golden Globe glory after they picked up five major awards at the Beverly Hills ceremony.

Down Under stars Nicole Kidman, Judy Davis and Rachel Griffiths all took home Golden Globes, as did Russell Crowe, a New Zealander who grew up in Australia and owns a sheep and cattle ranch there.

"Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!" chirped Australian director Baz Luhrmann, whose film "Moulin Rouge" won three awards, including the Golden Globe for best musical or comedy film.

Australians are hoping their strong showing will be repeated at the Oscars.

Billed as a more intimate and less uptight option to the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes show is one of the entertainment industry's most watched events -- even though the Globes still may not be in the Oscars' stratosphere.

RESOURCES List of winners    EXTRA INFORMATION The Golden Globes are unique in that they have a "musical or comedy" category for film. Click here for an interactive gallery of scenes from films nominated to that and to the film drama category. Click here for a printable ballot

Other nominated Aussies were Simon Baker of "The Guardian," Hugh Jackman of "Kate & Leopold" and Cate Blanchett of "Bandits."

Schizophrenic act

Australian hotshot Crowe won best actor in a drama for his schizophrenic performance in "A Beautiful Mind" at the 59th annual edition of the laid-back Hollywood lovefest.

Crowe, who won last year's Best Actor Oscar for "Gladiator," won his prize for portraying mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr.'s battle with the illness in the movie which was directed by Ron Howard.

Kidman, often coined by Australia's media as "Our Nic," picked up the Golden Globe for best actress in a musical or comedy for "Moulin Rouge."

Hawaii-born but Australian-bred Kidman played a courtesan in the legendary Paris nightclub involved in an ill-fated love affair with a struggling writer portrayed by Ewan McGregor.

"Moulin Rouge" was the highest grossing locally made film at the Australian box office in 2001, earning A$27.4 million (US$14 million).

Not to be outdone, veteran Australian actress Davis won best television actress for "Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows."

Griffiths completed the Aussie sweep, picking up the award for best supporting television actress for the quirky "Six Feet Under." She thanked "my beautiful homeland, Australia, and the creative community there."

'Proud of'

Australia has gained a reputation as a fertile ground for quirky and fun movies.

"It's something that all Australians should be proud of, especially those of us who are working in the industry," Kim Dalton, chief executive of the Australian Film Commission (AFC), told Reuters news agency on Monday.

"It does something for the profile of Australian film and television...the profile of Australia that's young, that's growing, that's successful, that's talented."

Tristram Miall, who produced "Strictly Ballroom" and 1996's "Children of the Revolution" starring Davis and Australian Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush, sounded a more cautious note.

"It may mean that people will take a call from an Australian producer or director, and so on, but at the end of the day it comes down to the particular project and the passion of the people wanting to make it," Miall told Reuters.

John Travolta, in Australia last year to promote "Swordfish," which starred Australian Hugh Jackman along with Heath Ledger -- would probably not be surprised at the Australians' level of international success.

"They're creative, they've got stamina and a sense of fun. You couldn't ask for more," Travolta told Reuters at the time.