Globe-Trotting: Check Out These 2012 Golden Globe Nominees Before They Were Stars!

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Best Actress—Comedy or Musical (Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids)

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Best Actress—Comedy or Musical (Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids)

We always knew Kristen Wiig was funny and talented, but we didn’t know she was that talented. If she wins the Golden Globe for Best Actress, it won’t just be because of her acting, which is deserving in itself. She is winning for writing and starring in one of the biggest movies of the year, and for proving that women can rule the box office too.

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Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation)

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Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation)

The Globes love to be the first to give awards to new shows, so we’re pretty sure that Zooey Deschanel will win for cuteness on New Girl. But if there is any justice in the world, they will give the statue to Amy Poehler. As Rob Lowe’s character on Parks and Recreation would say, she is lit-er-ally our favorite character on all of television!

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Who Am I?

Best Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill in Moneyball)

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Best Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill in Moneyball)

Did you ever think you would see the day when Jonah Hill would be competing for an acting prize with Christopher Plummer and Kenneth Branagh? We didn’t either, but he really is that good in Moneyball. He has no chance of winning—this Globe is all Plummer’s—but we’re excited to see what else Hill has up his sleeves in the future.

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Best Actor in a Drama Series (Kelsey Grammer in Boss)

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Best Actor in a Drama Series (Kelsey Grammer in Boss)

Forget Tony Danza, because Kelsey Grammer is definitely the Boss now. He’s been nominated for eight Golden Globes in the comedy category, and in his first dramatic television role, he’s hit it out of the park playing the mayor of Chicago. Will he add another statue to his mantle against last year’s winner, Steve Buscemi in Boardwalk Empire, and Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad?

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Who Am I?

Best Actress—Comedy or Musical (Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn)

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Best Actress—Comedy or Musical (Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn)

These days, Michelle Williams is long gone from Capeside, and we know that Gams would be proud. She was nominated last year for Blue Valentine, and she’s back again for her role as Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn. She might be beat out by Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids, but we’re going to bet that Williams becomes the first Dawson’s Creek alum to take home a Globe.

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Who Am I?

Best Actor–Comedy or Musical (Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris)

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Best Actor—Comedy or Musical (Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris)

It’s usually the ladies in Woody Allen movies that get nominated at the Globes (Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson can attest to that), but Owen Wilson picked up the acting nomination for Midnight in Paris, which is also nominated for Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay. His main competition from Jean Dujardin in The Artist, but don’t be surprised if Ryan Gosling grabs it for Crazy, Stupid, Love.

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Who Am I?

Best Director (Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris)

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Best Director (Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris)

It is really insane that over the past forty years, Woody Allen has directed almost fifty films, and has been nominated for eleven Golden Globes, but has only won once (for writing The Purple Rose of Cairo). He has two more chances this year in the directing and writing categories for Midnight in Paris, which is his biggest hit—critically and financially—in years!

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Best Actor—Drama (Brad Pitt in Moneyball)

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Best Actor—Drama (Brad Pitt in Moneyball)

It was a good year for Brad Pitt, with two critically acclaimed parts in The Tree of Life and Moneyball. He picked up his fifth Golden Globe nomination today, and we think he’s the favorite to win. The other nominees are George Clooney in The Descendants, Leonardo DiCaprio in J. Edgar, Michael Fassbender in Shame, and Ryan Gosling in The Ides of March.

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Best Actress—Comedy or Musical (Charlize Theron in Young Adult)

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Best Actress—Comedy or Musical (Charlize Theron in Young Adult)

Just because Charlize Theron’s character in Young Adult is totally unlikeable, doesn’t mean we don’t like her. She is definitely deserving in this oddly dark film. The other nominees are Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet both for Carnage, Kristen Wiig in Bridesmaids, and Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn.

Who Am I?

Best Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer in Beginners)

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Best Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer in Beginners)

It’s been almost 50 years since Christopher Plummer starred in The Sound of Music, and it’s pretty hard to believe that he’s never won one of these guys. We’re pretty sure this will change this year with his role in Beginners. The other nominees are Kenneth Branagh in My Week with Marilyn, Albert Brooks in Drive, Jonah Hill in Moneyball and Viggo Mortensen in A Dangerous Method.

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Best Actress in a Drama Series (Claire Danes in Homeland)

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Best Actress in a Drama Series (Claire Danes in Homeland)

The Globes love them some Claire Danes. She like, won, you know, for My So-Called Life back in 1995, and last year for Temple Grandin. She’s back in the race again for her role on Homeland. The other nominees are Mireille Enos in The Killing, Julianna Margulies in The Good Wife, Madeleine Stowe in Revenge and Callie Thorne in Necessary Roughness.

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Who Am I?

Best Actress—Drama (Viola Davis in The Help)

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Best Actress—Drama (Viola Davis in The Help)

Right now it’s a three horse race towards Best Actress, but we think Viola Davis might have the edge for her role in The Help over Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady (this is her record 26^th nomination, by the way) and Glenn Close’s gender-bending role in Albert Nobbs. The other nominees are Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin.

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Who Am I?

Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Zooey Deschanel in New Girl)

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Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Zooey Deschanel in New Girl)

Somehow we knew that the Hollywood Foreign Press would love Zooey Deschanel in New Girl. She is fairly adorable, so we get it. The other nominees are Laura Dern in Enlightened, Tina Fey in 30 Rock, Laura Linney in The Big C and Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation.