Oppenheimer's Robert Downey Jr. Calls Himself 'Most Improved Player' in Golden Globes 2024 Acceptance Speech

Mar. 15, 2025

Robert Downey Jr. at the 2024 Golden Globes on Jan. 7, 2024.Photo:CBS

CBS

Robert Downey Jr.just won big at the 2024Golden Globes!

The 58-year-old actor nabbed the supporting movie actor prize at Sunday night’s ceremony, for his role asLewis StraussinOppenheimer.

Also in the running wereWillem DafoeforPoor Things,Robert De NiroforKillers of the Flower Moon,Ryan GoslingforBarbie, Charles Melton forMay DecemberandMark RuffaloforPoor Things.

The actor also shouted out his “primary caregiver,” wifeSusan Downey, whom he said has “literally made an art out of extracting me from my comfort zone. … But she’s easy on the eyes, so whatevs.”

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Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss inOppenheimer(2023).Melinda Sue Gordon

Melinda Sue Gordon

In his long and varied career, he’s never played a character quite like Lewis Strauss, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission leader and adversary to J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Opposite fellow Globe nomineeCillian Murphyas the latter, Downey Jr. brought his dramatic chops toChristopher Nolan’sOppenheimer, one of 2023’s biggest box office successes as well as thehighest grossing biopicof all time.

Willem Dafoe inPoor Things(2023).Yorgos Lanthimos/ Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Yorgos Lanthimos/ Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Several years passed until the next time he appeared on the list, in 2018 forThe Florida Projectand 2019 forAt Eternity’s Gate. Thanks toPoor Things, his fourth, he now has as many Globe nods as Oscar nods.

In director Yorgos Lanthimos and screenwriter Tony McNamara’s follow-up toThe Favourite,Emma Stonestars as a Frankenstein’s monster, with Dafoe as the fastidious doctor reviving her.

Robert De Niro inKillers of the Flower Moon(2023).Melinda Sue Gordon/Apple

Melinda Sue Gordon/Apple

The category’s most decorated contender, two-time Oscar winner De Niro, 80, notched a whopping 10th Golden Globe nod forKillers of the Flower Moon.

His only competitive win was in 1981 forRaging Bull, but in 2011 he became one of the Globes' recipients of the prestigiousCecil B. DeMille Award.

Director and co-writerMartin Scorsese’s adaptation of David Grann’s bookKillers of the Flower Moonwas honored in the Golden Globes’ top drama movie categories, including for De Niro’s leading costarsLeonardo DiCaprioandLily Gladstone. It tells the real-life story of the serial killings of the Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma.

Ryan Gosling inBarbie(2023).Warner Bros./Everett

Warner Bros./Everett

Gosling’s laugh-out-loudportrayal of “blond fragility” as Kenwas, despite his being in Barbie’s shadow, integral to the record-breaking success ofMargot RobbieandGreta Gerwig’s live-action Mattel adaptation.

The 43-year-old Oscar nominee earned some of the best reviews of his career and now can add a sixth Golden Globe nod to his résumé. He won in 2017 for the Globes-dominatingLa La Land.

In addition to being 2023’stop box office earner,Barbieled this year’s Golden Globe film nominations with nine, including for best comedy or musical, Gerwig’s direction and writing, plus a new category, cinematic and box office achievement.

Charles Melton inMay December(2023).Francois Duhamel / Courtesy of Netflix

Francois Duhamel / Courtesy of Netflix

A first-time contender at more than just the Golden Globes, Melton, 33, is making a big impression this awards season for his performance inMay December.

TheRiverdalealum won this year’sGotham Award, New York Film Critics Circle Award and a special Critics Choice Association honor.

Holding his own against fellow Globe nomineesNatalie PortmanandJulianne Moore, not to mention writer-directorTodd Haynes, Melton brings vivid life to Joe Yoo, a father who began his relationship with his wife (Moore) when he was only 13.

Mark Ruffalo inPoor Things(2023).Searchlight Pictures/Everett

Searchlight Pictures/Everett

Golden Globe-nominated alongside Dafoe in the supporting category, plus Stone in the lead actress in a comedy or musical movie category, Ruffalo showed up on voters' list for the fifth time forPoor Things. He won in 2021 for playing a pair of twins in the limited seriesI Know This Much Is True.

Ruffalo, 56, has earned some of the biggest praise of his career as the foppish Duncan Wedderburn in Lanthimos’ surreally goofy take onFrankenstein.

SeePEOPLE’s full coverageof the 81st annual Golden Globes as they’re broadcasting live from The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on CBS and Paramount+.

source: people.com