Golden Globes 2014: 12 Years a Slave wins one award despite seven nominations

Steve McQueen's epic won the Best Drama award but lost out elsewhere

12 Years A Slave: Steve McQueen with the Golden Globe award for best motion picture (drama) (Getty Images)

Steve McQueen's acclaimed film 12 Years a Slave took home just one award at the Golden Globe ceremony last night, despite being nominated in seven categories.

The film, starring British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor as kidnapped New Yorker Solomon Northup, won Best Motion Picture (Drama) at the Los Angeles ceremony.

British director McQueen said he was "a little bit in shock" before quoting the lyrics to an old gospel song sung in the movie, "roll, Jordan, roll".

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His harrowing movie will now be widely-tipped for Oscar success in March, after beating tough competition from Philomena, Rush, Gravity and Captain Phillips.

It is thought his film will be in close competition with Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical)winner American Hustle when the Academy Award nominations are announced later this week.

Lead star Ejiofor was widely expected to take home the Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama) prize but lost out, along with Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom's Idris Elba, to Matthew McConaughey for his role in Dallas Buyers Club.

Ejiofor also failed to pick up the Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie award for his role in BBC drama Dancing on the Edge, after Michael Douglas won for his role as Liberace in Behind the Candelabra.

McQueen lost out to Alfonso Cuaron, who won Best Director for his space epic Gravity, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.

Chiwetel Ejiofor (second from right) stars as kidnapped slave Solomon Northup in '12 Years A Slave' (AP)

John Ridley, who penned the 12 Years a Slave screenplay, missed out on a gong after Spike Jonze won for Her, while Michael Fassbender lost out to Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club in the Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture category.

Lupita Nyong'o, who plays Patsey in the film, was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, but Jennifer Lawrence pipped her to the prize with her portrayal of desperate housewife Rosalyn Rosenfeld American Hustle.