Double whammy: Actors from Avatar pose with their trophy after the film scooped best dramatic film and best director for James Cameron (second left). Also pictured are Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Jon Landau and Sigourney Weaver Avatar takes best drama and James Cameron receives gong for best director
Sandra Bullock and Jeff Bridges scoop awards for best dramatic actress and actor
Meryl Streep and Robert Downey Jnr take best actress and actor awards for a musical or comedy
Martin Scorsese wins the Cecil B DeMille lifetime achievement award
Scroll down for a full list of Golden Globe winners
3D sci-fi epic Avatar scooped a double win for best dramatic film and best director at this year's Hollywood Golden Globes.
The $400million blockbuster, which has taken over $1billion worldwide, was declared the winner by Oscar winner Julia Roberts.
Avatar director James Cameron found himself competing against his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow and her film The Hurt Locker for the accolade.
Upon learning he had won, Cameron confessed he hadn't prepared a speech because he had been sure his former wife was going to win, adding that she 'richly deserved to'.
Avatar is now the second biggest money-making film in the world behind Titanic, which was also directed by Cameron.
Best in show: Robert Downey Jnr took best actor in a musical or comedy for his role in Sherlock Holmes (pictured on the left with his wife Susan Levine), while Jeff Bridges (right, posing with former winner Kate Winslet) was awarded the best actor in a dramatic role for Crazy Heart 
Leading ladies: Meryl Streep (left) took the gong for best actress in a musical or comedy for her role in Julie & Julia, while Sandra Bullock (right) won best dramatic actress for The Blind Side Leading ladies Helen Mirren, Emily Blunt and Carey Mulligan flew the flag for the UK as they attended the event last night.
The three were on the shortlist for best actress in a drama, while Colin Firth was in the running in the male category.
The 67th annual bash is considered to be Hollywood's second most important awards event behind the Oscars.
The coveted prize was taken by Sandra Bullock, who modestly declared: 'I may not be the most talented but I've been given opportunity.'
Mirren was nominated for her role in The Last Station, based on the life of War And Peace novelist Leo Tolstoy, while Blunt was up for The Young Victoria and Mulligan for her role in An Education.
Great British hopes: Emily Blunt and Carey Mulligan arrive at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles
Strapless: Leona Lewis is nominated for best original song for I See You, from Avatar; with Helen MirrenThere had been reports that rain was expected but the organisers of the Golden Globes made no provision for the weather aside from legions of assistants waiting to meet limos armed with umbrellas.
Emily Blunt's hair was ruined by the rain, but she still looked stunning in a Dolce and Gabbana strapless nude pink gown.
Helen Mirren had her limo pull up to the front door of the Chateau Marmont so she wouldn't get her vintage Armani gown soaked.
Blonde ambition: A-list actresses Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Julia Roberts
Under cover: Spanish actress Penelope Cruz, French actress Marion Cotillard and Chloe Sevigny 'It's what's going to happen when we get there that worries me, but listen, it's not as if I've never seen a rain drop before,' Mirren joked.
But despite the downpour Mulligan posed unfazed on the red carpet. She dazzled in an off the shoulder blue silk, lace mesh gown with a flowing train.
Her Hollywood agent held an umbrella aloft as the 24-year-old walked the long entrance to the Beverly Hilton where the Golden Globe Awards were being held.
Sea of umbrellas: Model Heidi Klum is ever the professional as she shelters from the rain
Practised poses: Actresses Kate Hudson, Jennifer Garner and Maggie Gyllenhaal show their best sidesCarey's mother Nano, joked that her London-born daughter was used to the rain, while one of Carey's associates kept wiping the rain drops from her naked back and shoulders.
Carey, who made her screen debut playing one of Keira Knightley's sisters in Pride & Prejudice, has made such an impression in Hollywood that many here believe she will receive a best actress Oscar nomination for An Education.
Her smile certainly warmed up a damp red carpet.
Loving the limelight: Mulligan and her mother Nano giggle as they walk the red carpet, while Tea Leoni and David Duchovny pose togetherAlso nominated in her category was Gabourey Sidibe for US hit Precious.
All along the red carpet beautiful women were having their $500 hair styles touched up and teased and in some cases, their make up.
'It's a real nightmare. In twenty years of coming to this event I've never had dry myself off after walking the red carpet,' one veteran producer said.
George Clooney's latest film Up In The Air had most nominations with six, including best motion picture, for which it competed against Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds and Precious.
Power couple: George Clooney and girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis; Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson
Dressed in their best: Heidi Klum and Seal mixed with show host Ricky Gervais and his girlfriend, British television producer Jane FallonFirth was up for his role in A Single Man against Clooney, Morgan Freeman, Jeff Bridges and Tobey Maguire.
Bridges won a standing ovation for his victory. The much admired actor has been nominated several times but has never scooped the prize.
Bridges begged the crowd at the Hilton to sit down, joking: 'You're really screwing up my under appreciated status.'
Comic Ricky Gervais hosted the glitzy bash at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
A lot of stars stayed away from the show and headed for the Hollywood Hills because they feared Gervais would tease them mercilessly.
Different styles: Actress Sigourney Weaver posed with Sarah Ferguson, while former Beatle Paul McCartney brought along his girlfriend Nancy Shevell
Don't look down: Mickey Rourke and Elena Kuletskaya join Mariah Carey and US actor Nick CannonOpening the show he joked that he was honoured looking at all the great faces.
'It reminds me of all the great work done by cosmetic surgeons,' he cracked as the cameras roamed the star studded tables.
Gervais then told the audience that he'd had a penis enlargement.
Such topics are not usually broached on prime time US TV.
Jennifer Anniston did not appear amused after Gervais joked that actors are often more identified by the roles they have played than their real life personas, before introducing her as Rachel from Friends.
Happy: Mo'Nique with presenter Nicole Kidman after winning best supporting actress for a motion picture for her role in Precious; a wet Colin Farrell arrives with Alicja Bachleda Best supporting actress prize was announced by Nicole Kidman and it went to American comic Mo'nique for her dramatic role playing an abusive mother in the film Precious.
Paul McCartney presented the best animated film to Up and drew laughs, and a few gasps, when he said that animated films aren't just aren't for children, 'they're also for adults who take drugs'.
Australian actress Toni Collette won the best comedy actress award for TV show United States of Tara.
Big night out: Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart and Tobey Mcguire and his wife JenniferJohn Lithgow, picked up the supporting actor in a TV mini series for Dexter.
Brit Daniel Day-Lewis was in the running for best actor in a comedy or musical film for his performance in Nine.
In the TV section of the awards, the BBC's Churchill biopic Into The Storm and Dickens adaptation Little Dorrit were up for the best mini-series title.
All dressed up: Toni Collette, Rose Byrne and Jaime Pressly
Umbrella holders: Black Eyed Peas' singer Fergie's husband Josh Duhamel and director Quentin Tarrantino make themselves useful in the rainKenneth Branagh and Jeremy Irons battled for best actor in a mini-series, while Hugh Laurie was up for best actor in a TV drama.
Sir Paul McCartney was among the award presenters along with Harrison Ford, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston and Tom Hanks.
Sir Paul was also in the running for a gong with his song I Want To Come Home, from Everybody's Fine, competing for best original song against Leona Lewis's I See You (from Avatar) and U2's Winter (Brothers).
The winners
Best actress in a TV motion picture - Drew Barrymore for the HBO film, Grey Gardens
Best actor in a TV movie - Kevin Bacon for Taking a Chance
Best actress in a comedy or musical - Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia
Best animated film - Up
Best comedy actress for a TV show - Toni Collette for United States of Tara
Best supporting actor in a TV mini series- John Lithgow for Dexter
Best director - James Cameron for Avatar
Cecile B DeMille award for lifetime achievement - Martin Scorsese
Best TV series - Mad Men
Best supporting actress - Mo'nique for Precious
Best actor in a TV drama - Michael C Hall for Dexter
Best drama TV actress - Julianna Marguiles for The Good Wife
Best supporting actor - Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds
Best supporting actress in a mini series -Chole Sevigny for HBO show Big Love
Best song -The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart
Best score - Up
Best comedy or musical TV series - Glee
Best comedy or musical motion picture - The Hangover
Best actress in a dramatic film role - Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side
Best comedy film actor award - Robert Downey Jnr for Sherlock Holmes
Best dramatic actor - Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart
Best actor for a comedy series - Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock
Best screenplay - Jason Reitman for Up In The Air
Best foreign film - The White Ribbon
Best dramatic film - Avatar
Pale ladies: Lisa Edelstein from House, Glee star Jessalyn Gilsig and actress Eva La Rue 
Shimmering in black: Glenn Close, Olivia Wilde from House and Julie Bowenjjsource: dailymail