The glitz and glamour of awards season kicks off on Sunday with the 71st annual Golden Globes, but if you don't know who stormed the stage in 1958 or who holds the record for the number of competitive awards, here are ten facts about the star-studded ceremony...
© Photo: Getty ImagesThis year's hosts: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
1. The first Golden Globes ceremony was held in 1944 at the 20th Century Fox studios in Los Angeles and recognised excellence in film from around the world in five categories. The 2014 awards ceremony will be held in the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
2. The awards were formed by a group of journalists who called themselves the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The association still exists throughout the world and has 90 members representing over 55 countries.
3. The ceremony was first broadcast in 1958, although it was only televised in the Los Angeles area. The broadcast went national in 1964.
4. The ceremony is now broadcast in 167 countries and is ranked third behind the Oscars and the Grammys in most-watched awards shows.
5. The awards were handed out by journalists until 1958 when the Rat Pack stormed the stage and took over hosting duties. They were then invited back the following year to officially host.
© Photo: Getty Images6. The Golden Globe statue was only redesigned for the first time in its history in 2009.
7. Revenue from the ceremony allows the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to donate millions to entertainment-related charities as well as funding scholarships and programs for future professionals.
8. The ceremony had a different host every year until 2011 when Ricky Gervais was asked back to host for two more years. Amy Poehler and Tina Fey took over in 2013 and they will also host in 2014 and 2015.
9. Meryl Streep holds the most competitive Golden Globe awards with eight, however, if honorary awards are included, Barbara Streisand holds the record with nine. In 2014, American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave led the nominations with seven each.
10. There are now 15 film categories and 11 television categories. Nominations are often seen as an indication of who will receive Academy nominations later in the year.
