Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra won three Emmys on Sunday, including one for best TV movie, as British pop king Elton John sang a tribute to the flamboyant gay entertainer.
The movie – made for the small screen rather than the cinema, reportedly partly due to the frank depiction of gay sex – also took home awards for best actor Michael Douglas, who starred as Liberace, and best director Steven Soderbergh.
The film was in competition for the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival in May, but did not win. It is not eligible for the Oscars, because it was released on television first.
Hollywood veteran Douglas drew laughter as he accepted his award at the 65th Primetime Emmys awards show, joking with co-star Matt Damon sitting in the front row at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
In terms of being in bed with Michael Douglas, I now have things in common with Sharon Stone and Glenn Close
“This is a two hander. And Matt, you’re only as good as your other hand,” he told Damon, who plays Liberace’s gay lover Scott Thorson in the movie made by US cable channel Home Box Office (HBO).