It was a spectacular evening for Stephen Graham and the cast of the Netflix series 'Adolescence' at the Golden Globes ceremony in Beverly Hills. The show dominated the awards, securing wins for best supporting actor, best supporting actress, best limited series, and the coveted best actor award for Graham himself.
A Heartfelt Speech and a Major Transformation
The 52-year-old actor, honoured for his powerful performance as Eddie Miller, delivered one of the night's most memorable moments with a heartfelt acceptance speech that included a surprise shoutout to Queen Latifah. This triumph comes just days after the highly anticipated return of another of his projects, the Disney Plus period thriller 'A Thousand Blows', for its second season.
Graham's commitment to his craft is legendary, particularly his willingness to undergo drastic physical changes. For his role as the fearsome Victorian bare-knuckle boxer Sugar Goodson in the first season, he embarked on a gruelling six-month training regimen. The result was a muscled and merciless fighter that left fans in awe.
'He's the First One to Get on the Phone'
In a recent interview, the show's star and producer Hannah Walters, who is also Graham's wife, explained his dedication to physical transformation. 'For Stephen, he loves a physical transformation,' Walters told Metro.co.uk. 'He's the first one to get on the phone. He was on the phone saying, "What can we do with the Sugar this time so it feels different for me?"'
Walters, who plays Eliza Moody in the series, outlined how Graham maintained his physique for season two, conscious that more boxing scenes were likely. His new look, featuring dishevelled clothing and matted, overgrown hair, made him almost unrecognisable.
The series also stars Erin Doherty, who herself was honoured at the Golden Globes, winning best supporting actress for her role in 'Adolescence'. In 'A Thousand Blows', Doherty plays gang leader Mary Carr, with Walters' Eliza as her trusted confidante.
An Unspoken, Unbreakable Bond
Discussing the complex relationship between their characters, Walters noted, 'There is a loyalty in season one that is tested to its limits... Then in the second series, there's true tenderness and appreciation.' She described the bond as largely unspoken but fundamentally unbreakable, with Eliza serving as Mary's true anchor.
Series creator Steven Knight, the mind behind 'Peaky Blinders', praised the actors for conveying so much without dialogue. 'As a writer, if you've got the right performers, you don't have to use as many lines... That's exactly that relationship, a lot [being] unsaid is absolutely correct,' he said.
Both seasons of 'A Thousand Blows' are available to stream on Disney Plus now.
