**A host of stars are arriving at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles for this year’s Golden Globes, the first major Hollywood award ceremony of 2010.**Many are huddling under umbrellas as rain lashes the traditional red carpet.
Britain’s Ricky Gervais will present the event, which will see both movies and TV shows honoured.
Up in the Air leads the field in the film categories with six nominations, including one for George Clooney for best lead actor in a drama.
The Globes are awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a body of around 90 international journalists based in southern California.
The HFPA will announce at Sunday’s gala that it is donating $100,000 (£61,387) to Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti relief fund for victims of the Haiti earthquake.
Segregated
British hopes in the film categories rest on Carey Mulligan, Emily Blunt and Dame Helen Mirren, all up for best performance by an actress in a drama.
Colin Firth, nominated for best actor in a drama for his role as a gay academic in film A Single Man, will also fly the flag for the UK.
Unlike the Oscars, the Globes divides its film prizes between dramas and comedies or musicals.
The TV awards are similarly segregated, with additional accolades for mini-series or films made for the small screen.
British talent is well represented here, with Kenneth Branagh recognised for BBC crime series Wallander and Jeremy Irons cited for the cable movie Georgia O’Keeffe.
Kate Winslet, recognised in 2009 for her performance in The Reader, will present an award this year, as will Sir Paul McCartney - nominated alongside U2’s Bono in the best film song category.
Director Martin Scorsese will be honoured with a special award for his outstanding contribution to the entertainment field.
Gervais, who won a Globe in 2004 for his work in The Office, told the BBC this week he was looking forward to being the event’s first single host in 15 years.
“I’m going to say what I think is funny and I’m going to give the A-listers a hard time,” the 48-year-old said.