Dame Helen is Queen of the Globes

Dame Helen missed out on an award for TV's Prime Suspect Full details of the winners Profile: Dame Helen Mirren

British actress Dame Helen Mirren has dominated this year's Golden Globes, even though Babel and Dreamgirls won the two main film categories.

She received acting prizes as Elizabeth I in the TV mini-series of the same name and as Elizabeth II in The Queen, which also won best film screenplay.

There were two further awards for Elizabeth I, while Martin Scorsese was best director for The Departed.

Forest Whitaker, Sacha Baron Cohen and Meryl Streep also won acting Globes.

Whitaker's leading role in The Last King of Scotland, in which he plays Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, earned him best actor in a film drama.

For me personally it was one of the best nights of my life Dame Helen Mirren The night in quotes

Baron Cohen described Borat, his controversial parody of a Kazakh journalist, as "a life-changing experience".

"Thank you to every American who has not sued me so far," he joked after receiving the trophy for best comedy actor in a movie.

Meanwhile Streep said her Golden Globe for The Devil Wears Prada - for which she was named best actress in a comedy film - made her "want to cry with gratitude".

Dame Helen told the BBC that it was "a fantastic night in general for British writers and directors and actors".

Sacha Baron Cohen caused controversy with his Borat spoof Borat film clip Golden Globes: In pictures

"I hope we don't suffer a backlash next year - we may well."

She added: "For me personally it was one of the best nights of my life."

Jeremy Irons, who won best supporting actor in a mini-series, said it had been "wonderful" to play opposite Dame Helen in Elizabeth I.

"Why is it that the jobs that are the most fun are the ones that give you the awards?" he asked. "It's like you don't deserve them.

"I was up against a great lot of people, and I'm supporting Helen Mirren, and if you can't support Helen Mirren you can't do anything."

TV winners

Clint Eastwood's Letters From Iwo Jima was named best foreign language film.

Pitt (l) is among the stars of Babel, which was up for seven Globes

Medical drama Grey's Anatomy was best TV drama series, and Alec Baldwin was presented with the prize for best TV comedy actor, for 30 Rock.

Hugh Laurie's portrayal of a grumpy medical consultant in House earned him top TV drama actor.

And Kyra Sedgwick was listed as the best actress in a TV drama for The Closer.

Animation

Dreamgirls - named best musical or comedy film - collected three awards, including best supporting movie actor for Eddie Murphy.

Murphy described Dreamgirls as "such a wonderful movie"

The same movie earned Jennifer Hudson the best supporting actress in a film.

She said she had "never ever dreamed this big".

"This goes far beyond anything I could have ever imagined," the former American Idol contestant added.

Although Babel - starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett - won best drama among the year's film releases, it failed to pick up any other Golden Globes. It had been nominated seven times in all.

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