A round-up of a film and television awards ceremony would typically centre on that, film and television awards, but it was Hollywood's great reckoning that dominated the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards tonight.

The three and a half hour event saw Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Greta Gerwig and many, many more women speak at length about the film industry's responsibility to put sexual assault and misconduct firmly in the past and keep it there, along with the continuing gender pay gap and unequal opportunities.

This culminated in a lengthy, rousing speech from Oprah Winfrey as she accepted the Cecile B. DeMille award - you couldn't hear so much as an atom drop in the room, let alone a pin.

The speech so moved people that Ron Howard had trouble trying to return the triviality of showbiz awards after, setting up for a killer blow from co-presenter Natalie Portman.

The rehearsed speeches were strong but just that - rehearsed - whereas Portman shocked the audience as she cut in: "Here are the all-male nominees for Best Director."

Cut to in close-up, the nominees all looked a little flustered, though Guillermo del Toro recovered and collected the award, winning over the audience with a heartfelt speech that moved The Shape of Water actors Sally Hawkins and Octavia Spencer to tears.

Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Show all 55 1 /55 Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Meryl Street and Ai-jen Poo Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691db) Meryl Streep 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Rosa Clemente and Susan Sarandon BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 07: Activist Rosa Clemente and Susan Sarandon (R) attend The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) Getty Images Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Shailene Woodley and activist Calina Lawrence BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 07: 75th ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS -- Pictured: (l-r) Actor Shailene Woodley and activist Calina Lawrence arrive to the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018. (Photo by Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Emma Watson and Marai Larasi Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX (9307701fy) Emma Watson 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Amy Poehler and Saru Jayaraman Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/BEI/REX (9307698bm) Amy Poehler and Saru Jayaraman 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Laura Dern and Mónica Ramírez Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/BEI/REX (9307698di) Laura Dern and guest 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Michelle Williams and Tarana Burke Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694eq) Michelle Williams and guest 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Debra Messing Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691be) Debra Messing 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Caitriona Balfe Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694bn) Caitriona Balfe 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Allison Williams Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691ag) Allison Williams 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Zoe Kravitz Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691ff) Zoe Kravitz 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Viola Davis and Julius Tennon Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694fr) Viola Davis and Julius Tennon 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Tracee Ellis Ross Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694cr) Tracee Ellis Ross 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Sarah Paulson Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694ee) Sarah Paulson 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Sadie Sink Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694bv) Sadie Sink 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Rita Moreno Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX (9307701do) Rita Moreno 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694fi) Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Millie Bobby Brown Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694fp) Millie Bobby Brown 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Michelle Pfeiffer Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694fk) Michelle Pfeiffer 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Margot Robbie Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691gc) Margot Robbie 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Mandy Moore Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694df) Mandy Moore 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Maggie Gyllenhaal Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694fq) Maggie Gyllenhaal 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Lily James Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694fv) Lily James 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Kendall Jenner Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691eo) Kendall Jenner 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Kit Harrington Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691ei) Kit Harrington 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Kerry Washington Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691fn) Kerry Washington 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Kelly Clarkson Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694cm) Kelly Clarkson 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Dakota Johnson Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691dh) Dakota Johnson 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Kate Hudson Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694fw) Kate Hudson 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Jessica Biel Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694ef) Jessica Biel 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Jamie Chung Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694ce) Jamie Chung 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes James Franco and Dave Franco Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694fe) James Franco and Dave Franco 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Issa Rae Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694ej) Issa Rae 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Isabelle Huppert Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694fb) Isabelle Huppert 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Heidi Klum Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX (9307701ea) Heidi Klum 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Gwendoline Christie Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691fh) Gwendoline Christie 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Geena Davis Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694fz) Geena Davis 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Claire Foy Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691ch) Claire Foy 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Elisabeth Moss Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691fv) Elisabeth Moss 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Diane Kruger Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691fp) Diane Kruger 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Catherine Zeta-Jones Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694cp) Catherine Zeta-Jones 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Angelina Jolie Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691gg) Angelina Jolie 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Nicole Kidman Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691hp) Nicole Kidman 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Mary J. Blige Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694hm) Mary J. Blige 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Mariah Carey Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691gp) Mariah Carey 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Katherine Langford Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691ct) Katherine Langford 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX (9307701pj) Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Gillian Anderson Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX (9307691il) Gillian Anderson 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Gal Gadot Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX (9307701qp) Gal Gadot 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Emilia Clarke Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX (9307701ij) Emilia Clarke 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Alicia Vikander Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX (9307701fd) Alicia Vikander 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes America Ferrera and Natalie Portman Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chelsea Lauren/BEI/REX (9307698ev) America Ferrera and Natalie Portman 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Sally Hawkins Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rob Latour/REX (9307694gr) Sally Hawkins 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Saoirse Ronan Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX (9307701il) Saoirse Ronan 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features Wearing black for women – activists and actors at the Golden Globes Reese Witherspoon and Eva Longoria Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX (9307701pl) Reese Witherspoon and Eva Longoria 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 07 Jan 2018 Rex Features

When it came to actual awards, the night started off with few surprises, but a slew of them came late on as Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri became the dominant film with four wins, with Sam Rockwell and Frances McDormand winning acting awards, director Martin McDonagh picking up best screenplay, and then returning to the stage for Best Picture - Drama.

Greta Gerwig's directorial debut, Lady Bird, landed both Best Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Actress - Musical or Comedy (Saoirse Ronan) meanwhile, the former coming at the expense of the beloved indie Get Out. It was a good night for films with a budget of ~$10million or less, something that might not be repeated at the Oscars next month where Dunkirk and The Post could sneak in.

Gary Oldman consolidated his position as the frontrunner for the Oscar with his win for Best Actor - Drama for his transformative performance as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, though James Franco also picked up Best Actor - Musical or Comedy for The Disaster Artist, offering another chapter in the film's bizarre tale of The Room director Tommy Wiseau, who ended up in an awkward shuffle for the microphone with Franco on stage.

There were few surprises elsewhere: Alison Janney picked up Best Supporting Actress for I, Tonya, In The Fade won Best Picture - Foreign Language, and Pixar's unstoppable Coco won Best Picture - Animated over underdog The Breadwinner.

When it came to television, the night belonged truly to women: Big Little Lies walked away with a dominant four awards in the Limited Series categories - Best Series, Best Actress for Nicole Kidman, Best Supporting Actress for Laura Dern, and Best Supporting Actor for Alexander Alexander Skarsgård, with The Handmaid's Tale winning Best Series - Drama and Best Actress - Drama for Elisabeth Moss.

Breakout charmer The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel won Best Series - Musical or Comedy and Best Actress - Musical or Comedy for Rachel Brosnahan's lead performance. Ewan McGregor also won Best Actor in a Limited Series for Fargo, while Sterling K. Brown won Best Actor - Drama for This Is Us and Aziz Ansari won Best Actor - Musical or Comedy for Master of None.