At the 2026 Golden Globes, Julia Roberts turned heads with her heartfelt “Sorry Baby” shoutout to Eva Victor, highlighting the film and its star during a major awards broadcast. The Julia Roberts Sorry Baby shoutout became an unexpected centerpiece, boosting attention for a smaller film and its creative force while celebrating industry camaraderie during Hollywood’s glamorous awards night.
Unexpected Turns at the 2026 Golden Globes
The Golden Globes have often been seen as a forerunner to the Academy Awards, strategically blending their categories to make the event more inclusive and influential. By splitting their awards into drama and musical/comedy, adding more nominees to each field, and making sure high-profile names fill the seats, the Globes strive to set the tone—and perhaps predict—the direction of the subsequent Oscars.
This year’s ceremony was no different in its ambition to shape the awards season conversation. Leading nominees like One Battle After Another, Hamnet, and Marty Supreme entered the night as presumed Oscar contenders. While the wins and upsets made headlines, one of the night’s most talked-about moments happened outside the main award categories. Eva Victor, despite not clinching Best Actress in a Drama for Sorry, Baby, was propelled into the spotlight thanks to Julia Roberts’ endorsement on live television.
Major Contenders and Notable Winners
Heavyweights such as Jessie Buckley, who secured Best Actress for her performance in Hamnet, came as no surprise to those tracking award season favorites. Meanwhile, Wagner Moura’s victory in Best Actor in a Drama for The Secret Agent might enhance his visibility among Oscar voters, though his film remains a less likely contender for mainstream attention. For Eva Victor, who both starred in and helmed Sorry, Baby, mainstream recognition seemed less assured prior to Roberts’ gesture. The Globes, as always, delivered their share of predicted victories and unexpected boosts for independent films and emerging artists.
Julia Roberts Uplifts Eva Victor and ‘Sorry, Baby’
With the Best Actress in a Drama award going to Jessie Buckley, Julia Roberts took the stage soon after to present the Best Pictures – Musical or Comedy honor. In a gesture that resonated beyond the envelope opens and winner’s speeches, Roberts took a moment to recognize fellow nominee Eva Victor and her film, Sorry, Baby.
“I lost, a minute ago… me and Eva Victor, who is my hero. Sorry, Baby – if you have not seen it, see it.”
– Julia Roberts, Actress
This sincere moment, delivered on national television, amplified interest in Victor’s work and the film itself. The Roberts shoutout, quickly picked up by social media and press outlets including Refinery29 Australia, underscored the camaraderie among nominees, especially those not taking home awards that evening.
“@refinery29au Julia Roberts gave a shoutout to her fellow nominee Eva Victor while she presented at the GoldenGlobes. The stars may have lost the Best Actress award to Jessie Buckley, but continued to support each other 🥰 ♬ original sound – Refinery29 Australia”
– Refinery29 Australia, Media Outlet
The gesture reminded viewers and the industry that advocacy for authentic storytelling, especially from underrecognized films, is alive and well on Hollywood’s largest stages. For Victor, whose creative voice and nuanced performance power Sorry, Baby, the high-profile endorsement may stand as a greater breakthrough than many formal accolades.
The Road and Reception of ‘Sorry, Baby’
Sorry, Baby, an A24 release, arrived in theaters the previous summer with a limited rollout, reaching a few hundred screens but managing to hold its own despite fierce competition. Financially, the film performed comparably to After the Hunt, another drama with which Julia Roberts herself is associated. Both films find commonality not only at the box office but through their shared exploration of campus-set narratives and themes of sexual assault, albeit through distinct and sometimes ambiguous lenses.
Victor, who identifies as nonbinary and uses both she/her and they/them pronouns, wore multiple hats for Sorry, Baby—writing, directing, and starring as Agnes, a young professor confronting the aftereffects of sexual assault. Her performance bridges humor and pain, showing a character whose comedic deadpan is both genuine and self-protective. The film navigates its heavy subject matter with a unique blend of wit and authenticity, a tone that stands out in comparison to other nominees typically labeled as strictly comedies or dramas.
Navigating Comedy and Drama at Awards Shows
The Globes’ habit of categorizing films sometimes puts sharp comedic works against more traditionally dramatic performances. For instance, Rose Byrne, who took home a Best Actress win for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, competed in the comedy section, while Victor’s similarly complex work in Sorry, Baby was slotted as a drama. Critics and viewers alike have noted the common threads of humor, darkness, and vulnerability that both women brought to their respective roles.
Examples abound in Victor’s performance—her turn at a grocery store trying to sneak a cat past a cashier, or her understated retorts to an insensitive doctor conducting a post-assault examination. During that pivotal medical scene, Victor’s response lingers in the mind:
“I will definitely keep that in mind for the next time”
– Eva Victor, Actor/Director (as Agnes)
This sharp, even biting humor offsets the film’s painful realism, allowing the character to express both boundaries and openness without reducing the narrative’s complexity.
Eva Victor’s Portrayal of Agnes: Humor Amid Hardship
Victor’s approach brings fullness to Agnes, using humor as both a shield and a salve. As Sorry, Baby follows the character across multiple timelines—before and after the life-altering assault—Victor displays subtle variations in how Agnes manages herself and the world around her. The flashbacks and present-day scenes highlight minor but telling modulations in speech, posture, and willingness to reveal vulnerability. In a jury duty sequence, Victor masterfully balances deadpan delivery with the weight of lived experience:
“Oh, I did not know we were going to be reading those aloud, so…”
– Eva Victor, Actor/Director (as Agnes)
As Agnes is pressed further about her background, Victor’s performance layers humor with the uncomfortable necessity of justification. When forced to explain why she didn’t report her assault to the police, Agnes’ response brims with heartbreaking logic and wry detachment:
“I want him to stop being someone who does that. And if he went to jail, he’d just be someone who does that who’s now in jail.”
– Eva Victor, Actor/Director (as Agnes)
This single line, both tragic and darkly comic, captures the internal reckoning of a survivor navigating systems ill-equipped to offer true resolution. Victor’s writing, direction, and on-screen portrayal each contribute to a narrative that refuses to flatten its protagonist into victimhood or simple resilience.
Oscar Prospects and Industry Context
Despite her standout performance and newfound attention, Eva Victor faces steep odds for an Oscar nomination. Competition in the Best Actress category is fierce, with Jessie Buckley and Rose Byrne regarded as near-locks. Oscar watchers also cite Emma Stone’s chances for Bugonia, with the remaining slots hotly contested among established names like Amanda Seyfried, Renata Reinsve, Kate Hudson, and relative newcomers such as Chase Infini from One Battle After Another. Even if Victor does not secure a nomination, her work has been elevated through the unique alignment of critical acclaim, peer recognition, and Roberts’ high-profile endorsement.
Victor’s modest filmography before Sorry, Baby underscores her pivotal achievement with this project, having appeared in only a handful of roles—many of them brief or in underseen titles. Industry insiders, including those at Decider and The A.V. Club, have taken note, with Jesse Hassenger noting the importance of such breakthrough turns in shaping industry momentum and inspiring broader conversations around representation.
The Power and Limits of Awards Buzz
At their core, the Golden Globes thrive on moments that transcend predictable wins and calculated splits between genres. This year, the juxtaposition of big-budget favorites with unexpected spotlights on films like Sorry, Baby underscored the role of advocacy—both formal and informal—in shaping the canon. Roberts’ words, simple and compelling, serve as a call to action for audiences looking beyond the headlines:
“If you haven’t seen Sorry, Baby, see it.”
– Julia Roberts, Actress
While the film may straddle the line between comedy and drama—a reflection of Victor’s layered storytelling—it is this defiance of easy categorization that fuels its growing impact. The resonance of this approach may not rewrite the course of the Oscars overnight but signals a shift in how audiences and industry insiders consider worthy stories.
Memorable Moments and Other Highlights from the Globes
Beyond the “Sorry Baby” moment, the 2026 Golden Globes produced a wide range of talking points. Major winners included Hamnet for Best Drama, One Battle After Another for Best Musical or Comedy, The Pitt for Best TV Drama, The Studio for Best TV Comedy, and Adolescence for Best Limited Series. Notable appearances and speeches added to the evening: Nikki Glaser’s pointed roast of Hollywood’s elite, and Teyana Taylor’s emotional message, “Our dreams deserve space,” earning headlines of their own. The ceremony’s roster of nominees also sparked discussion, with surprises and perceived snubs fueling online debate about representation and visibility.
The interplay between established talent—such as Julia Roberts and Jessie Buckley—and rising creators like Eva Victor showcases the evolving terrain of Hollywood’s awards culture. Social moments, such as Julia Roberts’ spontaneous endorsement, hold sway in shaping the buzz that can follow an underdog candidate well after the statuettes have been handed out.
What Comes Next for ‘Sorry, Baby’ and Its Creative Team
With increased attention from both the industry and the public, Sorry, Baby appears poised for further discovery. The A24 film is now available on HBO Max, making it accessible for new audiences drawn by live broadcast moments and critical word-of-mouth. As Oscar voting looms and the broader awards race intensifies, Victor, Roberts, and their fellow nominees demonstrate the importance of recognition rooted in artistry and authenticity, not merely ceremony and spectacle.
The 2026 Golden Globes may have crowned their major winners, but the evening’s most lasting story may be that of a film and a filmmaker lifted by the passion and solidarity of their peers. Julia Roberts’ “Sorry Baby” shoutout illustrates that, even in a landscape driven by competition, meaningful support and visibility for underseen stories can become the true headline of the night.
