It's been a triumphant night in Hollywood as stars of stage and screen gathered to celebrate the 69th Golden Globe Awards, with silent movie The Artist and Hawaiian-based family drama The Descendants both winning big.

The awards, recognising the best in film and TV over the past year, honoured a diverse and far-reaching range of work.

Meryl Streep followed through on punters' expectations by scooping the best actress in a drama gong for Thatcher biopic The Iron Lady and thanked "everyone in England for letting me trample on their history."

An emotional Michelle Williams paid tribute to her daughter Matilda for her "bravery and exuberance" as she picked up the best actress in a comedy Globe for My Week With Marilyn, seeing off competition from the likes of Jodie Foster and Kristen Wiig in the process.

George Clooney was typically suave as he was awarded best actor in a drama for The Descendants, which also won the most coveted prize of the night - best motion picture for drama. The Artist followed through on its Critics' Choice success, with a best actor in comedy win for Jean Dujardin and best motion picture for comedy.

Octavia Spencer seemed overwhelmed to be awarded best supporting actress for The Help, the movie adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel, and Christopher Plummer picked up best supporting actor - a rare award in his 60-year career - for father-son tale Beginners. Madonna won best original song for Masterpiece in biopic W.E.

Martin Scorsese got a standing ovation as he collected the best director award for family drama Hugo, as did Morgan Freeman amid a moving speech that saw him accept the Cecil B. DeMille award for lifetime achievement in cinema.

It was also a good night for British talent, with Kate Winslet honoured for her role in TV mini-series Mildred Pierce, ITV drama Downton Abbey winning best mini-series and Idris Elba bringing home best actor in a mini-series for Luther.

Back for the third time running as Globes host, Ricky Gervais could not resist ruffling a few feathers as the awards got underway in LA's Beverley Hilton hotel.

"The Golden Globes are to the Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton," he told the audience, before clashing with Madonna - over a gag about her virginity - and Antonio Banderas, when he joked he couldn't understand his accent.

Other guest presenters at the star-studded ceremony included Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, Frieda Pinto, Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman.

The annual Globes are widely seen to indicate who may be up for Hollywood's biggest prize, The Academy Awards - nominations are out on 24 January.

See a list of all major winners at the Golden Globes, below. Or check out all the red carpet photos from the awards here.

Do you agree with the shortlist? Is there anyone who you felt missed out? And is this a good sign of Oscars to come? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter or in the comments section at the bottom of this article.

Golden Globes 2012: Winners List

Best Motion Picture – Drama

WINNER: The Descendants

• The Help
• The Ides of March
• Moneyball
• War Horse
• Hugo

Best Actress – Drama

WINNER: Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady

• Glenn Close – Albert Nobbs
• Viola Davis - The Help
• Rooney Mara – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Tilda Swinton – We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Actor - Drama

WINNER: George Clooney – The Descendants

• Leonardo DiCaprio – J.Edgar
• Michael Fassbender – Shame
• Ryan Gosling – The Ides of March
• Brad Pitt – Moneyball

Best Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical

WINNER: The Artist

• 50/50
• Bridesmaids
• Midnight In Paris
• My Week With Marilyn

Best Actress – Comedy or Musical

WINNER: Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn

• Jodie Foster – Carnage
• Charlize Theron – Young Adult
• Kristen Wiig – Bridesmaids
• Kate Winslet – Carnage

Best Actor – Comedy or Musical

WINNER: Jean Dujardin – The Artist

• Brendan Gleeson – The Guard
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt – 50/50
• Ryan Gosling – Crazy, Stupid, Love
• Owen Wilson – Midnight in Paris

The real star of The Artist, which scooped the Best Comedy Film award, was Uggie, the talented dog who visited Stylist's office last week before jetting over to Hollywood to enjoy his moment in the spotlight.

Best Supporting Actress In A Motion Picture

WINNER: Octavia Spencer - The Help

• Berenice Bejo - The Artist
• Jessica Chastain - The Help
• Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs
• Shailene Woodley - The Descendants

Best Supporting Actor In A Motion Picture

WINNER: Christopher Plummer - Beginners

• Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn
• Albert Brooks - Drive
• Jonah Hill - Moneyball
• Viggo Mortensen - A Dangerous Method

Best Director - Motion Picture

WINNER: Martin Scorsese - Hugo

• Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris
• George Clooney - The Ides of March
• Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
• Alexander Payne - The Descendants

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

WINNER: Woody Allen - Midnight In Paris

• Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
• Nat Faxon, Alexander Payne, Jim Rash - The Descendants
• Stan Chervin, Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian - Moneyball
• George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon - The Ides Of March

Best Television Series - Drama

WINNER: Homeland

• American Horror Story
• Boardwalk Empire
• Boss
• Game of Thrones

Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical

WINNER Modern Family

• New Girl
• Enlightened
• Episodes
• Glee

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

WINNER: Downton Abbey

• Cinema Verite
• The Hour
• Mildred Pierce
• Too Big to Fail

Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series - Drama

WINNER: Claire Danes - Homeland

• Mireille Enos - The Killing
• Julianna Margulies - The Good Wife
• Madeleine Stowe - Revenge
• Callie Thorne - Necessary Roughness

Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series - Drama

WINNER: Kelsey Grammer - Boss

• Steve Buscemi - Boardwalk Empire
• Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad
• Jeremy Irons - The Borgias
• Damian Lewis - Homeland

Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

WINNER Laura Dern - Enlightened

• Zooey Deschanel - New Girl
• Tina Fey - 30 Rock
• Laura Linney - The Big C
• Amy Poehler - Parks and Recreation

Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

WINNER: Matt LeBlanc - Episodes

• Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock
• David Duchovny - Californication
• Johnny Galecki - The Big Bang Theory
• Thomas Jane - Hung

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television

WINNER: Kate Winslet – Mildred Pierce

• Romola Garai – The Hour
• Diane Lane – Cinema Verite
• Elizabeth McGovern – Downton Abbey
• Emily Watson – Appropriate Adult

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

WINNER: Idris Elba – Luther

• Hugh Bonneville – Downton Abbey
• William Hurt – Too Big To Fail
• Bill Nighy – Page Eight
• Dominic West – The Hour

Cecil B. DeMille Award

Morgan Freeman