Golden Globes 2021: Ma Rainey's Nomination Stirs Emotions

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom has picked major nominations at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards, as per the list released Wednesday, inspiring a moment in time that has stirred public emotions. Along with a place reserved for actor Viola Davis for Best Actress (Drama), the Globes have given a posthumous nomination to late actor Chadwick Boseman for Best Actor (Drama), following his tragic demise in August last year. 

Seeing Boseman on the prestigious nomination list for the Golden Globes 2021 has led to a resurgence of commemoration for the actor who was battling colon cancer in the years preceding his death. His role as Levee in the Netflix musical Ma Rainey's Black Bottom had earned him praise. Davis, in the lead as the legendary African-American singer Ma Rainey herself, had also delivered a critically acclaimed performance. 

Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis For Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is regarded as Boseman's final screen appearance. The film, upon release, was dedicated to his memory by the makers. 

Earlier this year, Boseman received a

Chadwick Boseman’s wife, Taylor Simone Leward, accepts his Actor’s Tribute award for #MaRaineyFilm at the #GothamAwards: “Chad, thank you. I love you. I am so proud of you. Keep shining your light on us" ♥️ pic.twitter.com/kbcopHcEJz

Chadwick Boseman’s wife, Taylor Simone Leward, accepts his Actor’s Tribute award for #MaRaineyFilm at the #GothamAwards: “Chad, thank you. I love you. I am so proud of you. Keep shining your light on us" ♥️ pic.twitter.com/kbcopHcEJz

— Dionne Grant (@DionneGrant) January 12, 2021

Davis, meanwhile, had stunned audiences with her rendition of the Blues icon, having undergone a dramatic body transformation for the role, gaining close to 200 pounds. Read about it here.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, released on Netflix in December 2020, follows singer Ma Rainey and the story of a recording session with her band. The film is noted by the American Film Institute as one of the ten best films of 2020. 

Other Golden Globe Nominees 

Along with Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, several other women-centric projects and female talent has been recognised by the Globes this year. Read more on it here. 

Some nominations are listed below: 

• Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek) – Best Actress TV Series Comedy 
• Olivia Colman, Emma Corrin (The Crown) – Best Actress TV Series Drama
• Cate Blanchett (Mrs. America) – Best Actress Limited Series
• Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) – Best Actress Limited Series

In a historic first, three women - Regina King, Chloe Zhao and Emerald Fennell - were nominated in the best director category. The female cast of The Crown web series made it big too. Promising Young Woman meanwhile won a total of four nominations.