Bale, Leo take supporting-actor trophies for roles in Micky Ward movie
By Sarah Fahey, Special to the Sun
Lowell Sun
January 17, 2011
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Last night, the Hollywood Radio and Press Foundation opened their annual Golden Globes ceremony by naming Christian Bale this year’s best supporting actor for his portrayal of Dicky Eklund in The Fighter.
“David O. Russell is just fantastic and Mark (Wahlberg) drove this whole movie,” Bale gushed. “Jack McGee, Mickey O’Keefe, Ray (Rahmalo) and RayRay (Rahmalo Jr.) and all the people from Lowell who were just so fantastic, thank you for letting us do this.”
Before Melissa Leo won an award for her work on the film, Bale joked, “I hope Melissa and Amy (Adams) are out of character or else there’ll be a punch-out over the best-supporting-actress award.”
Leo took home the trophy for best supporting actress in a feature film for her role as Alice Ward in The Fighter. She spoke to the press of real-life Alice Ward’s recent illness.
“Alice is alive and kicking. From the moment I met her, I knew she was an amazing, complex woman, who easily could stand as an icon for an American heroine, feared by many but loved by all.”
Amy Adams, who was also up for a best-supporting-actress award for her role as Charlene Ward, said, “The (Eklund and Ward) sisters in the movie, and the real characters they’re based on, are amazing, tough, strong women. It was great working with everyone. Great cast. Great crew. I wish everyone could be here tonight. I’m just so proud to be repping this movie.”
Throughout the show, Sylvester Stallone pumped up The Fighter as not just a great story and a great movie but as a great message.
When Matt Damon presented Al Pacino with the prestigious Cecil B. Demille Award for outstanding contribution to entertainment, Pacino teased Damon, “I’ll be giving you your award for The Fighter.” Damon was originally attached to star in The Fighter, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
Mark Wahlberg was nominated for three awards, including best actor for his portrayal of Micky Ward. Although Wahlberg took home a trophy for his producer role on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, he did not win any awards for The Fighter.