Paquin joins actors' Golden Globes boycott

Kiwi actress Anna Paquin is among the Hollywood stars boycotting the Golden Globes awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

Some of the biggest names in film and television have refused to cross promised picketlines in support of striking writers.

The Writers Guild of America strike, which began November 5, has effectively shut down Hollywood.

Faced with the boycott, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced this week that the awards ceremony planned for January 13 would be replaced by an hour-long news conference announcing the winners of the 65th annual Golden Globes awards.

Paquin, 24, is nominated in the best supporting actress category for her role in the television movie Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee.

A publicist for Paquin said the young New Zealand actress was standing firm with colleagues, refusing to cross a Writers Guild of America picketline.

"Anna will not be crossing a picketline," the publicist said.

Asked if this meant she would decline an award, the publicist repeated: "It means that she will not cross a picketline."

The strike also threatens the Oscars ceremony, scheduled for February 24.

New Zealand is not expected to have a major presence at this year's awards, but the annual pre-Oscar Hollywood bash is pencilled in actors' diaries.

Publicist Shelli-Anne Couch said preparations for the party were progressing "full-steam ahead".

However, she admitted the Golden Globes ceremony cancellation "did not bode well" for the Oscars.

"I think the biggest bellwether is the Golden Globes," she said.

She added that contingencies would be in place for the Oscars ceremony if the writers' strike continued.

- © Fairfax NZ News