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Amanda Seyfried captured attention at the 2026 Golden Globes when cameras highlighted her awkward expressions during the announcement of key acting awards.
The 40-year-old actress seemed notably disappointed upon losing the Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture award to Rose Byrne.
In a widely shared clip from the event, the Emmy-winning actress, nominated for her role in “The Testament of Ann Lee,” can be seen briefly grimacing before quickly transitioning to a smile, clapping, and standing to congratulate Byrne.
Rose Byrne has been a notable contender in the awards scene for her role in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” which debuted at Sundance last year.
She previously secured the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance at the Berlin Film Festival and received a Critics Choice Award nomination for the same role.
Of the six nominees in the category, three had already won Golden Globes prior to Sunday night.
Amanda Seyfried raised eyebrows at the 2026 Golden Globes after cameras caught a series of awkward reactions she made during the night’s major acting announcements
Stone, 37, previously took home trophies for La La Land in 2017 and Poor Things in 2024. Seyfried, 40, won Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Film in 2023 for The Dropout, while Hudson, 46, won Supporting Actress for Almost Famous back in 2001.
While some viewers interpreted Seyfried’s reaction as petulant, body language expert Judi James offered a more nuanced take to The Daily Mail, explaining that award-season reactions have evolved – and honesty now often replaces forced cheer.
‘There are two contrasting ways to react to losing out on an award when you know you’re on split-screen,’ James explained. ‘The old-school way, which some of the other nominees are doing in this reaction shot, is to perform overkill body language responses of joy, looking more as though they’ve just won, with screams and open mouthed grins of fake delight.’
She added that in recent years, celebrities have increasingly leaned into humor rather than pretence.
‘Recently there has been a growing tendency to reveal or act out the more honest emotions of losing as a kind of a joke though,’ James said. ‘Celebs will often now show signs of comedy annoyance or anger at losing rather than pretend to be delighted.’
According to James, Seyfried’s now-viral grimace appeared more playful than truly irritable.
‘Amanda’s facial expression here suggests she was joking with the comedy grimace,’ she said. ‘Unlike the others on the split screen she doesn’t prep any smiling ‘losers’ face, instead she looks down before the winner is called suggesting she had no plans to opt for the fake bravado route.’
However, the expert noted that Seyfried’s body language still betrayed how much the moment mattered to her.
The actress, 40, appeared visibly disappointed when she lost the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture to Rose Byrne
In a viral clip from the evening, the Emmy-winning star, who was nominated for The Testament of Ann Lee, was caught grimacing briefly before forcing a smile, clapping and standing to applaud the winner
‘She does look tense here, showing how important a moment it was for her,’ James continued. ‘She seems to laugh at a joke from the stage, leaning sideways as she does so and the only real ‘tell’ of having found losing hard comes from a hard blink that she does as the winner’s name is called and she starts to clap.’
‘The exaggerated grimace does look like an attempt to be funny and perhaps more honest than losers who whoop and scream as though they’ve won,’ James added. ‘She converts quickly to a smile and a chat, which is her version of the ‘good losers’ face.’
Seyfried’s reactions drew renewed attention later in the ceremony when another category was announced.
Cameras appeared to catch her applauding before the winner was revealed and mouthing what some viewers interpreted as ‘she’s not even here’ when Michelle Williams was announced as the winner.
Social media was quick to react to Seyfried’s candid moments, with opinions sharply divided
‘Amanda Seyfried not paying attention and preemptively clapping because she probably didn’t think she’d win is the best thing I’ve seen all night. I love her,’ one viewer wrote
Williams took home Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television for her role as Molly Kochan in FX’s Dying for Sex.
The Daily Mail reached out to Seyfried’s representatives for comment, but has not heard back, at this time.
Social media was quick to react to Seyfried’s candid moments, with opinions sharply divided.
‘Amanda Seyfried not paying attention and preemptively clapping because she probably didn’t think she’d win is the best thing I’ve seen all night. I love her,’ one viewer wrote.
Others were less forgiving, with posts ranging from ‘Amanda Seyfried has been robbed again’ to the more cutting: ‘my favorite 2x loser Amanda Seyfried.’
Seyfried had also been nominated in that category for Long Bright River, marking a tough night in which she lost twice.
For the high-profile evening, Seyfried stunned in a strapless ivory Versace gown, accessorized with Tiffany & Co. diamonds as she took her seat among Hollywood’s elite.
While some viewers interpreted Seyfried’s reaction as petulant, body language expert Judi James offered a more nuanced take to The Daily Mail
According to James, Seyfried’s now-viral grimace appeared more playful than petulant
Despite the double loss, Seyfried remains one of the industry’s most decorated and bankable stars.
Over her career, she has earned a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award nomination, while her films as a leading actress have grossed more than $2.4 billion worldwide.
The 83rd Golden Globe Awards brought together some of the brightest stars in film and television at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday.
Comedian Nikki Glaser served as the master of ceremonies for the second year in a row.
Golden Globe Awards 2026 winners
Best Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Blue Moon
Bugonia
Marty Supreme
No Other Choice
Nouvelle Vague
One Battle After Another – WINNER
Best Picture – Drama
Frankenstein
Hamnet – WINNER
It Was Just An Accident
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama
Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams
Oscar Isaac – Frankenstein
Dwayne Johnson – Smashing Machine
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent – WINNER
Jeremy Allen White – Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Timothee Chalamet – Marty Supreme – WINNER
George Clooney – Jay Kelly
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
Lee Byung-Hun – No Other Choice
Jesse Plemons – Bugonia
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet – WINNER
Jennifer Lawrence – Die, My Love
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Julia Roberts – After the Hunt
Tessa Thompson – Hedda
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – WINNER
Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good
Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another
Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee
Emma Stone – Bugonia
Best Supporting Actress
Emily Blunt – The Smashing Machine
Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan – Weapons
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another – WINNER
Best Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Paul Mescal – Hamnet
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value – WINNER
Best Original Song
“Dream as One” – Avatar: Fire and Ash
“Golden” – KPop Demon Hunters – WINNER
“I Lied to You” – Sinners
“No Place Like Home” – Wicked: For Good
The Girl in the Bubble” – Wicked: For Good
“Train Dreams” – Train Dreams
Best Original Score– Motion Picture
Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein
Ludwig Göransson – Sinners – WINNER
Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another
Kangding Ray – Sirāt
Max Richter – Hamnet
Hans Zimmer – F1
Best Director – Motion Picture
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another – WINNER
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein
Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
Best Screenplay
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another – WINNER
Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident
Maggie O’Farrell – Hamnet
Best non-English Language Film
It Was Just an Accident
No Other Choice
The Secret Agent – WINNER
Sentimental Value
Sirât
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Best Animated Film
Arco
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
Elio
KPop Demon Hunters – WINNER
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2
Outstanding Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
KPop Demon Hunters
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning
Sinners – WINNER
Weapons
Wicked: For Good
Zootopia 2
Best TV Series – Drama
The Diplomat
The Pitt – WINNER
Pluribus
Severance
Slow Horses
The White Lotus
Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Hacks
Nobody Wants This
Only Murders in the Building
The Studio – WINNER
Best Limited TV Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV
Adolescence – WINNER
All Her Fault
The Beast in Me
Black Mirror
Dying for Sex
The Girlfriend
Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series – Drama
Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
Diego Luna – Andor
Gary Oldman – Slow Horses
Mark Ruffalo – Task
Adam Scott – Severance
Noah Wyle – The Pitt – WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series — Drama
Kathy Bates – Matlock
Britt Lower – Severance
Helen Mirren – MobLand
Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us
Keri Russell – The Diplomat
Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus – WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV
Claire Danes – The Beast in Me
Rashida Jones – Black Mirror
Amanda Seyfried – Long Bright River
Sarah Snook – All Her Fault
Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex
Robin Wright – The Girlfriend
Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy
Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This
Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building
Glen Powell – Chad Powers
Seth Rogen – The Studio – WINNER
Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White – The Bear
Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy
Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This
Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building
Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face
Jenna Ortega – Wednesday
Jean Smart – Hacks – WINNER
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV
Jacob Elordi – The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Paul Giamatti – Black Mirror
Stephen Graham – Adolescence – WINNER
Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Jude Law – Black Rabbit
Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie
Owen Cooper – Adolescence – WINNER
Billy Crudup – The Morning Show
Walton Goggins – The White Lotus
Jason Isaac – The White Lotus
Tramell Tillman – Severance
Ashley Walters – Adolescence
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie
Carrie Coon – The White Lotus
Erin Doherty – Adolescence – WINNER
Hannah Einbinder – Hacks
Catherine O’Hara – The Studio
Parker Posey – The White Lotus
Aimee Lou Wood – The White Lotus
Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on TV
Bill Maher – Is Anyone Else Seeing This?
Brett Goldstein – The Second Best Night of Your Life
Kevin Hart – Acting My Age
Kumail Nanjiani – Night Thoughts
Ricky Gervais – Mortality – WINNER
Sarah Silverman – Postmortem
Best Podcast
Armchair Expert
Call Her Daddy
Good Hang – WINNER
The Mel Robbins Podcast
Smartless
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