Actress Ali Wong and actor Steven Yeun won top honors at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night for their performances in Netflix’s acclaimed limited series “Beef”. Their historic wins mark the first time Asian performers have taken home Golden Globes in the Best Actress and Best Actor categories for a limited series.
Wong Becomes First Asian Woman to Win Best Actress
Wong took home the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series for her portrayal of chef and restauranteur Sasha Tran in “Beef”.
The win makes Wong the first Asian woman to ever win the award. In an emotional acceptance speech, Wong thanked her ex-husband Justin Hakuta for supporting her career early on. She also passionately called for more opportunities for Asian-American creatives in Hollywood.
“This is not just for me, this is for Sandra Oh, this is for Awkwafina, this is for everyone who came before me,” Wong said.
Wong was considered a front-runner for the award following rave reviews for her first dramatic leading performance. “Beef” marked a major departure for Wong from her roots in stand-up comedy.
Yeun Honored for Portrayal of Celebrity Chef in “Beef”
Yeun took home Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series for his role as Chef David Kim. “Beef” chronicles the intense rivalry between two fictional world-renowned chefs.
Yeun is the first Asian actor to ever win in the category. The Korean-American actor has steadily built up his resume with standout performances in films like “Minari” and TV shows like “The Walking Dead”.
“I was actually pulling a little bit of an Elsa, letting it go,” Yeun joked in his acceptance speech, referencing the famous Disney song. “Just being in the present moment felt really good.”
“Beef” also took home the Golden Globe for Best Limited Series, beating out high-profile contenders like “Black Bird” and “The Dropout”.
Critical Acclaim for Netflix’s “Beef”
“Beef” premiered on Netflix in late 2022 to widespread critical acclaim.
The seven-episode fictional series tackles themes of ambition, family, and cutthroat competition in the world of high-end cuisine. Wong and Yeun portray rival chefs battling to earn the exclusive and lucrative title of “World’s Greatest Chef”.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Rotten Tomatoes | 96% Fresh |
| Metacritic | 88/100 |
The show drew praise for its performances, writing, directing, and mouthwatering food cinematography. Following its Golden Globe wins and continued award season buzz, Netflix has confirmed “Beef” will return for a second season focusing on new characters.
What’s Next for Wong and Yeun
Wong and Yeun’s wins cap a landmark night for Asian-American representation at the Golden Globes. Their speeches passionately called for more opportunity and mainstream success for Asian creatives.
For Wong, the possibilities seem endless following her acclaimed dramatic debut. She is attached to multiple upcoming film projects, including the action thriller “Hard Target” opposite Jason Statham.
Meanwhile, Yeun has earned back-to-back Oscar buzz thanks to “Minari” and now “Beef”. He will lend his voice this year to the animated fantasy film “The Knights of the Zodiac”. Further out, Yeun is confirmed to play American icon Fred Rogers in a 2025 biopic.
With their star turns in “Beef”, Wong and Yeun have solidified themselves as bonafide A-listers with the talent and draw for lead roles in film and television. Their wins are a major step forward in representation for Asian-Americans. Now all eyes will be on how Hollywood responds and if this landmark night signals real change for creatives of Asian descent.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
