US actor Billy Bob Thornton clocked up a Golden Globe win for his role as hit-man Lorne Malvo in the TV mini-series Fargo.

He secured the win at the expense of Brit Martin Freeman who had been nominated in the same category for his portrayal of the hapless Lester Nygaard, the guy who unwittingly asks Billy Bob’s hit-man to kill someone.

“You can say anything in the world and get in trouble. I know this for a fact,” said Thornton accepting his award. “So I’m just going to say thank you.”

Also nominated for best actor in a mini-series or movie made for TV were Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, both for True Detective, and Mark Ruffalo for The Normal Heart.

(Jordan Strauss/Invision/PA)
(Jordan Strauss/Invision/PA)

Fargo, an adaptation of the Coen brothers’ acclaimed 1996 film, was the leading TV contender with five nominations.

It also triumphed in the best mini-series or movie made for TV category, where it was up against strong competition from The Missing, The Normal Heart, Olive Kitteridge and True Detective.

Fargo’s Allison Tolman, who portrayed Molly Solverson, was nominated in the category best performance by an actress in a mini-series or movie made for TV, but that award went to Maggie Gyllenhaal for The Honourable Woman, shown in the UK on BBC2.

Also nominated were Jessica Lange for the American Horror Story: Freak Show, Frances McDormand for Olive Kitteridge and Frances O’Connor for The Missing.

Allison’s on-screen husband Colin Hanks had been nominated as best supporting actress/actor but the award went to Matt Bomer for The Normal Heart. Also nominated were Alan Cumming for The Good Wife, Bill Murray for Olive Kitteridge and Jon Voight for Ray Donovan.