Mescal and Moura’s Emotional Hug Steals the Spotlight at the Golden Globes

The 2026 Golden Globes on Sunday night saw Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet win Best Motion Picture Drama, marking a big moment for the director and her cast. George Clooney and Don Cheadle presented the award, while producer Steven Spielberg praised Zhao as the only filmmaker capable of telling the story, calling her “exceptional.”

During her acceptance speech, Zhao shared a message from Hamnet star Paul Mescal, 29. “Making Hamnet made him realize that the most important thing of being an artist is learning to be vulnerable enough to allow ourselves to be seen for who we are and not who we ought to be. And to give ourselves fully to the world,” she said. “

Even the parts of ourselves that we’re ashamed of, that we’re afraid of, that are imperfect, so the people that we speak to, they can also see themselves and fully accept themselves.”

Mescal, who plays William Shakespeare, and Wagner Moura, nominated for his role in The Secret Agent, shared a warm moment on the Golden Globes stage, embracing each other as fellow actors recognized the pressures and triumphs of their work. Their connection highlighted the camaraderie and mutual respect among the evening’s nominees, even across different films and countries.

Paul Mescal and Wagner Moura embrace at the #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/TxB4bNyoMV

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) January 12, 2026

Hamnet, based on Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel, explores the grief of the Shakespeare family after the death of their son, Hamnet. Mescal’s Shakespeare and Jessie Buckley’s Agnes navigate their loss in very different ways, with Shakespeare turning to his writing. The film received six Golden Globe nominations, including Best Director for Zhao, Best Screenplay, and acting nods for both Mescal and Buckley.

Other films in the running included Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which received multiple nominations including Best Director and acting nods for Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, and It Was Just an Accident, a thriller that won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2025 and was also up for Best Motion Picture Non-English Language.

The Secret Agent, starring Moura, is a tense thriller set during Brazil’s 1977 military dictatorship. Moura was nominated for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture Drama, while the film also contended for Best Motion Picture Non-English Language.

Norwegian drama Sentimental Value was another strong contender, with a story centered on a family reunited after the death of their mother. Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning were all recognized for their performances.

The night emphasized both international talent and powerful storytelling. Mescal and Moura’s visible support for each other underscored the collaborative spirit of actors navigating awards season, proving that competition and respect can coexist on the same stage.

Moments like the Mescal-Moura embrace show how meaningful these awards can be beyond the trophies—they celebrate the human connections formed through art. I’d love to hear what you think about their camaraderie. Did this moment stand out to you at the Golden Globes? Share your thoughts in the comments.