Ben Whishaw Dedicates Golden Globe to 'Queer Hero and Icon'

In winning his supporting actor Golden Globe for A Very English Scandal, Ben Whishaw thanked "a true queer hero and icon," Norman Scott. But we realized very few may actually know about him unless you've seen the series. Here's a quick primer.

Scott, or Norman Josiffe as he was also known, was a former stable hand and model at the center of the a major 1970s British political scandal. The drama involved Scott alleging that he and Jeremy Thorpe, the leader of the Liberal Party and a member of Parliament, had an affair. He also said Thorpe conspired to attempt to kill him. The controversy ruined Thorpe's political career.

Whishaw played Scott in the BBC mini-series based on the true-life tale.

Read Whishaw's full speech below:

"Wow, thank you so much, Hollywood Foreign Press. I want to thank [director] Stephen Frears. What a legend. Thank you. I want to thank the BBC for continuing to make idiosyncratic and powerful work and for employing me again and again, thank you. I have to thank Hugh Grant above all, for such an exquisite performance. It was amazing to watch you do that. There's one person I really, really want to dedicate this award to and it's the man I had the privilege to portray in this show, Norman Scott, who took on the establishment with courage and defiance that I find completely inspiring. He is a true queer hero and icon."