The Women Nominated for the 72 Annual Golden Globes

Early Thursday morning, the Golden Globes announced their nominees for January’s 72nd ceremony. At SharpHeels, we couldn’t be more excited to see that some of our most favorite names in entertainment have made this year’s cut.

Celebrating the best of both films and television, the Golden Globes has managed to cover many of the industry’s greatest feats – and greatest females – for 2014. In the film categories, a plethora of talented actresses received nominations for leading and supporting roles in both drama and the musical/comedy categories. Julianne Moore for Still Alice (who was named Best Actress at the Hollywood Film Awards last month) goes up against Reese Witherspoon in one of the season’s most anticipated films, Wild. Based off Cheryl Strayed’s novel, Witherspoon also worked as a producer on the film. Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl), Jennifer Aniston (Cake), and Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) round out the lead drama actresses.

Coincidentally, Moore is also nominated for Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy for her work in Maps To The Stars – a satirical comedy on a Hollywood family, from director David Cronenberg. Amy Adams (Big Eyes), Emily Blunt (Into the Woods), Helen Mirren (The Hundred-Foot Journey), and Quvenzhané Wallis (Annie) are the other leading lady nominees.

Though Selma, Ava DuVernay’s film on the civil rights movement, won’t be released until Christmas day, it’s nominated for four awards, including best drama and best actor. Amidst the recent grand jury decisions, this movie release could carry a powerful punch with Golden Globes judges and voters. DuVernay is also up for one of the night’s biggest honors: Best Director. Going up against four of her male colleagues, she’s the first black woman to be nominated in this category.

Somewhat shockingly, Gone Girl did not receive a Best Picture nod, but Gillian Flynn – the author of both the book and the screenplay – is up for Best Screenplay for her writing work. She’s also the only woman nominated in this category. Last month, Flynn took home the same award at the HFAs, suggesting a possible trend in this year’s award shows.

Among the television categories, however, the women of Hollywood are truly celebrated. Four out of the five nominations for Best Comedy Series are shows created and run by women: Orange is the New Black (Jenji Kohan), Girls (Lena Dunham – who’s also nominated for Best Comedy Actress), Jane the Virgin (Jennie Snyder), and Amazon’s Transparent (Jill Soloway). HBO’s tech-bro comedy, Silicon Valley completes the section’s nominees.

For drama series, House of Cards, The Good Wife, and Downton Abbey are up against HBO’s Game of Thrones – which consistently struggles to feature a strong, admirable leading lady – and Showtime’s newest series, The Affair (co-created by Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi).

Though we’re truly shocked to not find Kerry Washington among the names for Drama’s Best Leading Ladies (she was also snubbed from the Screen Actors Guild nominations), we are glad to see Viola Davis up for her work on How to Get Away with Murder. Shonda Rhimes’ newest drama has been a powerhouse since day one, pulling in more than 20 million viewers for it’s premier. It has already been picked up for the rest of the season by ABC. The impeccable Robin Wright for House of Cards (who walked away with last year’s award for this category), Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife (the 2014 Emmy Winner for Best Actress) and Claire Danes for Homeland once again make the cut. The Affair’s Ruth Wilson is the second newcomer to the nominees list.

As for comedy’s feature females, we’re proud to see Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) nominated once again for her hilarious portrayal of Vice President (and presidential candidate). Dreyfus and Dunham are the only two ladies to be nominated both this year and last. Mindy Kaling and Amy Poehler are noticeably absent, with Taylor Schilling (OITNB), Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin), and Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) taking their place.

TV’s supporting actresses include Joanna Froggatt (Anna on Downton Abbey) – who deserves some recognition after last season’s grisly – and unnecessary – handling of her character. Kathy Bates represents American Horror Story: Freak Show’s only nod, and Uzo Aduba, the breakthrough star who plays Crazy Eyes on OITNB, receives her second nomination following fall’s Emmy Awards. Allison Janney (Mom), and Michelle Monaghan (True Detective) finish off the list.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will return as hosts for their third (and rumored final time), on Sunday, January 11.

Photos courtesy of HFPA & the Golden Globes, Fox Searchlight Pictures, ABC, & Netflix