"The Descendants" and "The Artist" won the top-film prizes at the Golden Globe Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

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The Hawaii-set family drama "The Descendants" won the Best Drama title, while its star, George Clooney, was named Best Actor in a Drama at the Sunday night event .

"We had an extraordinary ensemble cast of younger and older actors, veterans and newcomers, but our quarterback was George Clooney. Aside from a career best performance in my mind, he was a generous actor who helped everyone do their very best. Thanks, George,""Descendants" producer Jim Burke said as he accepted the Golden Globe for Best Drama.

"If this movie becomes a timeless movie, which it feels like it will be to me, it's all because of our filmmaker and friend, Alexander Payne. I just want to say from everyone how much we admire you and how proud we are of you."

The black-and-white ode to Hollywood's silent film era "The Artist" was declared Best Musical or Comedy. Its leading man Jean Dujardin took home the Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy trophy, and the movie won for Best Score.

Meryl Streep won Best Actress in a Drama for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady."

"This is such a thrill," a visibly shocked Streep said, praising her fellow nominees and declaring 2011 a great year for strong female performances.

After thanking God, whom Streep joked was really film producer Harvey Weinstein, she said she wanted to express her gratitude to "everybody in England who let me come and trample all over their history."

Michelle Williams picked up the Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy statuette for playing screen icon Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn."

Williams gave a shout out to Matilda, her 6-year-old daughter with the late actor Heath Ledger, "for suffering through six months of bedtime stories where all of the princesses had a Marilyn Monroe-sounding voice."

Williams also thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which presents the Globes, "for putting in my hands the same award Marilyn Monroe herself won over 50 years ago.

"I'm honored. Thank you," she said.

Octavia Spencer won the Best Supporting Actress honor for her performance of a fictional housemaid working in Mississippi during the civil-rights movement in "The Help."

"With regard to domestics in this country now and then, I think Dr. [Martin Luther] King said it best -- all labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and I thank you for recognizing that with our film," Spencer said.

Christopher Plummer earned the Best Supporting Actor Globe for his role as a senior citizen who finally comes to terms with his homosexuality in the movie "Beginners."

Martin Scorsese won the Best Director honor for "Hugo" and Woody Allen the award for Best Screenplay for "Midnight in Paris."

"The Adventures of Tintin" was named Best Animated Movie and Iran's "A Separation" Best Foreign Language Film.