Waltz set to be a Global star

Few would have predicted anything different after the buzz all three created, Downey drawing particular plaudits for his energetic and enigmatic display in Sherlock Holmes.

But the breakthrough award of the night had to be the best supporting actor going, which rightly went to Christoph Waltz.

I admit Ive not seen the performances of his rivals, but the newcomers effort in Inglourious Basterds is one of the finest arrivals on the Hollywood stage Ive seen for some time.

His sinister SS fixer Hans Landa is a masterclass in creepy charm to savour.

For the record, Avatar snared the best drama award and a best director gong for James Cameron, while the other winners included Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side, Meryl Street for Julie & Julia and Monique, whose starring role in Precious could be a massive career catalyst.

George Clooney, much-fancied for his performance in the popular Up in the Air, went away empty-handed, losing out to Jeff Bridges turn in Crazy Heart, while Up, which has crossed over from the cartoon genre to mainstream success, was a far-from-surprising winner of the animated film category.

The Globes are often a good indicator for the Oscars (indeed, Titanic picked up the same globes before cleaning up at the Academy Awards a month later), so it looks like James Cameron could soon be reprising the night 12 years ago when he declared himself king of the world.

Although the way he modestly suggested, on picking up the best director prize, that his ex-wife, Hurt Locker helmer Kathryn Bigelow, should have won instead suggests that the famously-demanding director may have mellowed somewhat since since his Titanic days.