Comedy actor/actress challengers in the Globes

Kristen Wiig in 'Bridesmaids'Brendan Gleeson in 'The Guard'Jean Dujardin in 'The Artist'With rookie nominee Kristen Wiig facing Golden Globe veterans Jodie Promote, Kate Winslet, Charlize Theron and Michelle Williams, there is lots more experience of the competition for musical/comedy actress compared to the men's race.Individuals four seasoned femme campaigners have four wins and 13 other previous Globe nominations together. This might be the comedy category, but individuals challengers share some serious thesping chops.The males -- first-timers Owen Wilson and Jean Dujardin, plus Brendan Gleeson, Frederick Gordon-Levitt and Ryan Gosling -- can muster just six prior nods together, and never just one victory.But past performance isn't a trusted help guide to future results. Indeed, among the HFPA's most dependable faves, Paul Giamatti, who won this past year for "Barney's Version," was broadly expected to come back this season for "Mutually Beneficial,Inch but did not result in the cut. Possibly the very fact he got a jerk within the miniseries category was enough.Also missing is last year's double nominee The Actor-brad Pitt. Some cynics predicted the HFPA's dependence on celebrities would deliver another jerk to Depp for "The Rum Diary," but following the barrage of mockery from Ough Gervais this past year, voters appear to possess curbed their wilder crushes.Nevertheless, the existence of both Promote and Winslet from "Carnage" (and never their less starry male co-stars John C. Reilly and Christoph Waltz) is one thing of surprise, especially since Winslet is going of her way of preventing being a member of the film honours conversation this time around around after a lot of years around the circuit.Actually, HFPA has attempted to create doubly sure Winslet appears by nominating her for that Cinemax TV drama "Mildred Pierce," so she will not have excuse for staying away from her red-colored carpet responsibilities.With "The Artist" riding excessive in award season, Dujardin begins the favorite for that men's title. He or she is the very first non-native British-speaking male to win since his fellow Frenchman Gerard Depardieu in 1990.The luck from the Irish is a newer factor, with Colin Farrell winning 3 years ago for "In Bruges," by which he co-starred with this particular year's nominee Gleeson (also nominated that year within the supporting category).Gleeson's nomination for "The Guard" signifies an unpredicted showing with that dark Irish comedy following the pic's previous low profile around the honours circuit.Gordon-Levitt for "50/50," Wilson for "Night time in Paris" and Gosling for "Crazy Stupid Love" were more broadly expected.Gosling also turns up over the aisle within the dramatic section for "The Ides of March," although not for which many experts regard as his best performance of the season in "Drive."Williams looks probably the most prone to step in the Globes for an Oscar jerk on her perf as Marilyn Monroe in "My Week With Marilyn." And because the only previous Globe nominee within the comedy actress race with no win, HFPA voters might feel her the years have come.But despite being encircled by towering dramatic talents, the rookie Wiig can not be eliminated. Her authorship of "Bridesmaids" stands for the claim produced by her shateringly amusing turn like a lady around the verge (or possibly within the grip) of the nervous breakdown triggered by her best friend's wedding.GOLDEN GLOBES COUNTDOWN Year of couples therapyThe ContendersDrama: Best Picture Comedy: Best Picture Best Director Drama Actor/Actress Comedy Actor/Actress Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com