Christopher Nolan wins best director

Christopher Nolan won the Golden Globe for best director for "Oppenheimer."

"The only time I've ever been on the stage before was accepting one of these on behalf of our dear friend, Heath Ledger, and that was complicated and challenging for me," the filmmaker said, referencing Ledger's posthumous Golden Globes win in 2008 for his role as the Joker in Nolan's "The Dark Knight."

Nolan noted that he received "a look of love and support" from Robert Downey Jr. during that moment as well as during his speech Sunday night.

"I thought it'd be simpler accepting for myself, but as a director … I stand here and realize I can only accept this on behalf of people," he continued. "As directors, we bring people together and we try to get them to give their best."

He shouted out the "Oppenheimer" cast as well as his wife and producing partner Emma Thomas, calling her "my partner in life and in art."

This is Nolan's sixth nomination and first win.

Other nominees in the category included Bradley Cooper for "Maestro," Greta Gerwig for "Barbie," Yorgos Lanthimos for "Poor Things," Martin Scorsese for "Killers of the Flower Moon" and Celine Song for "Past Lives."