Taron Egerton has said he regrets forgetting to thank Sir Elton John at the Golden Globe awards – but the singer quickly forgave him.
The 30-year-old was named best actor in a comedy/musical for playing Sir Elton in Rocketman but snubbed the singer as he went up to collect his gong, despite sitting next to him.
Egerton said he had not been in his “right mind” when he leapt up to accept the prize.
We have Eltons @eltonofficial AND @TaronEgerton on the Red Carpet! #GoldenGlobes night is the night we like! pic.twitter.com/yEzifiiwFI
— Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) January 6, 2020
He quipped Sir Elton had not taken the slight personally and they were holding hands beneath the table for the rest of the night.
Egerton told the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2: “I do regret that. I left Elton John hanging when I was winning an award for playing Elton John.
“But you know what, you aren’t in your right mind in that moment.
“I also made the great faux pas of not thanking the HFPA (Hollywood Foreign Press Association) who vote on the Golden Globes. You are just not thinking straight.
“I haven’t had a great deal of practice at winning awards. I didn’t nail it but it was a great moment regardless.”
Asked whether Sir Elton forgave him, he replied: “Yes, he was fine. The rest of the award show we were holding hands beneath the table.”
Over the course of filming Rocketman, Egerton and Sir Elton became close friends, even recording a song – (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again – for the film together.
Egerton revealed he thought Eddie Murphy was guaranteed to win the best actor in a comedy/musical gong for his comeback role in Dolemite Is My Name.
Describing the moment before he was announced as winner, he said: “I would love to play it cool but the fact of the matter is there is quite a few hours of sitting there before it happens.
“And about an hour before my girlfriend said: ‘Are you OK?’ And I said: ‘Honestly, I don’t know how much more of this I can handle.’
“I had kind of convinced myself that Eddie Murphy was going to win it anyway. Because everyone is so thrilled he is back – and it’s Eddie Murphy.
“He was brilliant in the film and he is a personal hero of mine.”
He added: “But you still wonder, don’t you? You still think there is a chance.
“Honestly, for those three hours before my body was so tense. But it all went rather well.
“It was fab. But it was unbearable.”
Egerton also sidestepped the suggestion he might be lined up as the next James Bond, suggesting his Rocketman co-star Richard Madden would be better suited to the part.
He said: “Richard Madden is one of my best mates and I do think he is the man for that.”