At a Glance
- Erin Doherty claimed the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series on January 11, 2026.
- Her role as child psychologist Briony Ariston in Netflix’s Adolescence earned her first Globe nomination and win.
- The actress dedicated the trophy to therapists, calling mental health “everything.”
- Why it matters: The win caps a sweep for Adolescence, with Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper also taking home Globes the same night.
Erin Doherty’s awards-season hot streak continued at the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards, where the British actress secured the trophy for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television for her chilling turn as child psychologist Briony Ariston in Netflix’s limited series Adolescence. Doherty, 31, accepted the honor on January 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, using her on-stage moment to praise the mental-health profession after CBS censors briefly bleeped her playful opening line.
A Promise to Mom-and a Bleep
“I made a promise to my mom that I wouldn’t say the word f—,” Doherty quipped as she stepped to the microphone, the expletive slipping through the audio feed despite the network’s delay. The actress laughed off the slip, apologized to her mother in the ballroom, then pivoted to gratitude for her castmates and collaborators on Adolescence.
Spotlight on Therapists
Mid-speech, Doherty shifted focus to the profession she portrayed on screen.
> “The second group that I would just love to dedicate this to are therapists,” she told the star-studded crowd. “I just think life can be tough. Mental health is everything. So thank you to therapists and it was an honor to play one. Thank you so much.”
The shout-out drew loud applause inside the Beverly Hilton and quickly trended on social media, with viewers praising the actress for highlighting mental-health workers during a prime-time awards show.
First-Time Nominee, First-Time Winner
The Globe marks Doherty’s first nomination-and victory-in the category. She previously won the Critics Choice Award on January 4, 2026, and an Emmy in September 2025 for the same role. In Adolescence, she plays the calm, methodical psychologist assigned to 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) after the boy is accused of murdering a female classmate. The four-part British drama became an instant streaming hit for Netflix, praised for its one-take filming style and unflinching look at teenage violence.
A “Fever Dream” of a Season
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter after her Emmy triumph, Doherty admitted the awards attention feels surreal.
> “My agent called me and was like, ‘You’ve got the nom.’ I was like, ‘Is everyone going to be there?'” she recalled, referring to co-stars Cooper and series creator Stephen Graham. “Those things have always been this strange, otherworldly thing, [so] my immediate reaction is: ‘Are we going to have a gorgeous night together? Are the comfort blankets going to be there?'”
Sunday night delivered that communal celebration in full: Graham, 52, won Best Actor in a Limited Series and Cooper, 16, won Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series, making Adolescence the only show to sweep all three television acting categories.
The Nominees She Beat
Doherty topped a competitive field that featured five fellow first-time Globe nominees:
- Aimee Lou Wood, The White Lotus season 3, as Chelsea, partner to Walton Goggins’ Rick
- Carrie Coon, The White Lotus season 3, as Laurie, the odd-one-out in a Hollywood girls’ trip
- Catherine O’Hara, The Studio, as Patty, a jilted former studio head on the Apple TV+ comedy
- Hannah Einbinder, Hacks season 4, as Ava, the acerbic comedy writer
- Parker Posey, The White Lotus season 3, as Victoria Ratliff, a spoiled North Carolina housewife
Each actress entered the night with her own milestone. Wood, 31, and Coon, 44, celebrated their inaugural Globe nominations thanks to Mike White’s Thailand-set installment of The White Lotus, which earned six total nominations. Coon told Gold Derby she felt “spoiled” by the recognition, adding, “the women were the sneaky, secret heart” of the season.
O’Hara, 71, previously won the Globe in 2021 for Schitt’s Creek and picked up her second nomination for The Studio, which also contends for Best Comedy Series. Einbinder, nominated for the fourth consecutive time for Hacks, arrived fresh off her first Emmy win in September. She confirmed on the red carpet that the acclaimed Max comedy will end after its upcoming fifth season.
Posey, 57, earned her second Globe nomination more than two decades after her first (2003’s Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay). In June 2025, she received the Legend Tribute at the Gotham TV Awards for her White Lotus role, thanking creator Mike White “for believing in a middle-aged woman, and believing in a legend.”
What’s Next
Doherty has not announced her next screen project, but with Adolescence now a triple-Globe powerhouse, demand for the London-trained actress is expected to surge. The limited series continues to stream globally on Netflix, while The White Lotus season 3 and Hacks season 4 are available on HBO/Max and Apple TV+, respectively.
Key Takeaways
- Erin Doherty’s portrayal of a child psychologist in Adolescence earned her first Golden Globe on January 11, 2026.
- The actress thanked therapists worldwide, calling mental health “everything.”
- Adolescence made history as the only show to sweep all three TV acting categories at the Globes.
- Fellow nominees Aimee Lou Wood, Carrie Coon, Catherine O’Hara, Hannah Einbinder, and Parker Posey all entered the category as first-time or returning Globe contenders.
