Lupita Nyong'o's "12 Years a Slave" likely frontrunner at Golden Globes

Actress Lupita Nyong'o attends the 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 12, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. Lupita Nyong'o, a best supporting actress nominee for her searing turn in "12 Years A Slave," stunned in a red Ralph Lauren column dress with matching cape, baring her toned shoulders. AFP PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • Kenya's Lupita Nyong'o, a best supporting actress nominee for her searing turn in "12 Years A Slave," stunned in a red Ralph Lauren column dress with matching cape, baring her toned shoulders.
  • Going into Sunday night's show, "12 Years a Slave" and "American Hustle" have the most nominations with seven nods each, followed by five for black and white road movie "Nebraska."

LOS ANGELES, January 13, 2014

Hollywood's A-list stars on Sunday donned eye-popping gowns -- with welcome pops of colours -- on the Golden Globes red carpet, where a sprinkler malfunction almost rained on the fashion parade.

Workers scrambled to mop up the mess before Tinseltown's top film and television actors headed to the Beverly Hilton for the first major awards show of the season.

Kenya's Lupita Nyong'o, a best supporting actress nominee for her searing turn in "12 Years A Slave," stunned in a red Ralph Lauren column dress with matching cape, baring her toned shoulders.

Harrowing saga "12 Years a Slave" and crime caper "American Hustle" are likely frontrunners at the 71st annual show, preceded by numerous star-studded parties.

Going into Sunday night's show, "12 Years a Slave" and "American Hustle" have the most nominations with seven nods each, followed by five for black and white road movie "Nebraska."

Both frontrunners garnered nods for their main actors, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong'o and Michael Fassbender for "12 Years a Slave," and Adams, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper and Lawrence for "American Hustle."

Also in red was "American Hustle" star and best musical/comedy actress nominee Amy Adams, who chose a two-tone burgundy-red Valentino halter dress with the same only-if-you-dare plunging neckline seen in the 1970s-era crime caper.

The key to pulling off the wide V neck? "Good posture," Adams quipped to E! television's Ryan Seacrest.

Red flowers adorned host Tina Fey's strapless black Carolina Herrera ball gown with a long train, while "Girls" star Lena Dunham sported a strapless canary yellow Zac Posen frock with a sweetheart neckline.

Pop starlet Taylor Swift also wore Herrera: a strapless gown with a black bodice and a flowing red skirt.

Basic black, always a red carpet staple, of course had its place at the Globes.

Australian actress Cate Blanchett, a favourite for the best drama actress prize for "Blue Jasmine," wowed in a lacy Armani number. Rock star Bono called her "a goddess."

Fey's co-host Amy Poehler sported a sleek black Stella McCartney gown with a stomach cut-out, and "August: Osage County" star Julia Roberts chose a black and white belted dress from Dolce and Gabbana.

"I just didn't want to break her," Roberts said of her epic fight scene with Meryl Streep in the film about a dysfunctional family harbouring secrets in Oklahoma. Both actresses are nominated for Globes glory.

Hollywood's A-list men did not disappoint: "Wolf of Wall Street" star Leonardo DiCaprio wore an Armani tuxedo, while "Hustle" star Bradley Cooper sported Tom Ford.

"Good Wife" star Julianna Margulies -- a nominee for best actress in a television drama -- chose a black Andrew Gn gown with cap sleeves and gold accents.

One of her rivals, "Scandal" star Kerry Washington, glowed in pale flowing Balenciaga, and had perhaps the best accessory -- a baby bump.