LOS ANGELES: Post-apocalyptic action film The Hunger Games was the big winner at the People’s Choice Awards on Thursday, picking up five awards including favourite movie of the year, while singer Katy Perry again led in the music categories.
Hosted by The Big Bang Theory actor Kaley Cuoco, the People’s Choice Awards named winners in more than 40 categories across film, television and music. About 475 million fans voted through the People’s Choice website.
The Hunger Games, based on the trilogy of novels by Suzanne Collins, beat out The Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises and Snow White and the Huntsman for the coveted favourite movie accolade.
Jennifer Lawrence, who plays Hunger Games heroine Katniss Everdeen, won the favourite movie actress award over Mila Kunis, Emma Stone, Anne Hathaway and Scarlett Johansson.
“Thank you for loving movies as much as I do, and loving this movie and voting,” Lawrence said.
The Hunger Games was also named favourite action film and favourite movie franchise, while its stars Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth won favourite on-screen chemistry.
The People’s Choice is the first of Hollywood’s annual awards shows, but unlike the Oscars or the Golden Globes, the winners are determined by fans, so it provides few insights into likely winners of the movie industry’s top honours in February.
The Avengers, which was nominated in eight categories, didn’t go home empty-handed. Robert Downey Jr was named favourite movie actor for his role as Iron Man in the superhero ensemble box office hit. “You’ve chosen wisely,” the actor joked on stage.
Adam Sandler picked up the fan favourite award for comedic actor, while former Friends star Jennifer Aniston picked up the favourite comedic movie actress award, beating out Mila Kunis, Reese Witherspoon, Emily Blunt and Cameron Diaz.
“I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to be honoured with this, after supporting me for almost 20 years,” Aniston said.
Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame picked up the favourite dramatic actress accolade for her role in The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Perks was also named favourite dramatic movie, while Ted, the raunchy R-rated comedy from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, was named favourite comedy film.
Music and television winners
Katy Perry took home four trophies this year, including favourite female artist and a surprise win for favourite pop artist over Justin Bieber, while Taylor Swift was a fan favourite for country artist.
“I want to thank you for caring about my music and me,” said Swift, whose chart-topping album Red was one of 2012’s top-sellers.
Maroon 5 picked up the favourite band award while British boy band The Wanted, won favourite breakout artist.
In the television categories, The Big Bang Theory was named favourite network comedy, while Grey’s Anatomy picked up favourite network drama.
Ellen Pompeo of Grey’s Anatomy and Castle actor Nathan Fillion won the favourite TV dramatic actress and actor awards, while Glee stars Lea Michele and Chris Colfer picked up the favourite TV comedic actress and actor awards.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2013.
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