Golden Globes: Morgan Freeman ‘honored’ to call Sidney Poitier a friend

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Morgan Freeman, winner of this year’s Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes, is well aware of how influential movies and the film industry can be on its audiences.

“One of the more effective avenues for learning American history is movies. I was always a big reader when I was a kid, but movies -– they’re so impactive,” Freeman told reporters backstage at the Globes on Sunday.

But the actor, 74, was also eager to talk about his own influences: Sidney Poitier, who along with Helen Mirren presented Freeman the award. “Most of us need something to hang our hopes and dreams on -– Sidney was my guiding star. I always tell him that,” Freeman said. “I am so honored that he thinks of me as a friend.”

Poitier in turn had praise for the award winner recently when Freeman received the AFI Life Achievement Award. Poitier spoke highly about Freeman at the event in Culver City in June.

-- Emily Rome