Sebastian Stan has claimed his first Golden Globe, winning Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his role in A Different Man. The actor delivered a heartfelt speech, urging a shift in societal attitudes toward people with disabilities.
In A Different Man, Stan portrays Edward, an aspiring actor with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to develop on the skin and bones. Stan’s performance alongside Adam Pearson, who also has the condition in real life, brought attention to the underrepresented issue of disability in film.
Stan began his acceptance speech by thanking his collaborators: “Aaron Schimberg and Adam Pearson at home, I wish you were here. I share this with you. Thank you for your trust.” He emphasized the importance of ending ignorance surrounding disabilities, saying, “Our ignorance and discomfort around disability and disfigurement has to end now. We have to normalize it and continue to expose ourselves [and our children] to it. Encourage acceptance.”
Stan also acknowledged his other project, The Apprentice, where he plays a young Donald Trump. He is nominated for Best Actor in a Drama for his portrayal in the film. Reflecting on both projects, he noted, “This was not an easy movie to make. Neither is The Apprentice, the other film that I was lucky to be a part of and that I am proud to be in. These are tough subject matters, but these films are real and they are necessary. We can’t be afraid and look away.”
Stan went on to thank A24, his management team, his manager of 27 years, and his family, including his mother and stepfather.
In an interview with Variety, Stan expressed his gratitude, acknowledging the challenges both films faced in production. “Both films have had such interesting, difficult journeys. We did A Different Man two years ago, and it got shelved because of the strike. The fact that we’re still here — and Apprentice was a film trying to be made for five years — this is extremely humbling and gratifying.”
Stan is one of three actors with multiple nominations at this year’s Golden Globes, alongside Selena Gomez for Emilia Pérez and Only Murders in the Building, and Kate Winslet for Lee and The Regime. Stan had previously been nominated for his role as Tommy Lee in Pam & Tommy.
A Different Man, written and directed by Aaron Schimberg, premiered at Sundance last year. Stan received the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance at the Berlin Film Festival, and the film won Best Picture at the Gotham Awards.
Other nominees in Stan’s category included Jesse Eisenberg for A Real Pain, Hugh Grant for Heretic, Gabriel LaBelle for Saturday Night, Jesse Plemons for Kinds of Kindness, and Glen Powell for Hit Man.
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