Los Angeles, Jan. 12 (Reuters): When actor-director George Clooney accepted his lifetime award at Sunday's Golden Globes awards, he used his acceptance speech to both put the value of awards in perspective and voice his support for the victims of the deadly attack on French newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

'Today is an extraordinary day,' Clooney said as he accepted his Cecil B. DeMille award recognising his work as actor, filmmaker and activist.

'Millions marched not only in Paris but all around the world, and there were Christians and Jews and Muslims, leaders of countries all over the world, they didn't march in protest, they marched in support of the idea that we will not walk in fear. Je suis Charlie.'

Clooney, 53, who wore a 'Je Suis Charlie' lapel pin, demonstrated self-deprecation in his acceptance speech, poking fun at himself for having lost more Globes than won.

'If you're in this room, you've caught the brass ring, you get to do what you've always dreamed to do and be celebrated, and that ain't losing,' he said.

Clooney, who has starred in films including Oceans Eleven, Syriana and The Descendants, paid tribute to late stars Lauren Bacall and Robin Williams, saying: 'I have no idea what hardware Robin Williams took home but I sure remember 'Carpe diem.''

He also quipped about the backbiting emails that leaked when Sony Pictures was hacked, encouraging everyone to make amends, and the unfavourable reviews for his 2014 film, Monuments Men, joking: 'I'll get you back.'

All eyes were on the actor and his new wife Amal as they made their red carpet debut as a married couple yesterday.

'It's a humbling thing when you find someone to love, and even better when you've been waiting your whole life,' a choked-up Clooney said on stage to his wife.

'Amal, whatever alchemy it is that brought us together, I couldn't be more proud to be your husband.'

Earlier in the night, stars such as Jared Leto, Helen Mirren, Joshua Jackson and Diane Kruger also voiced support for the Charlie Hebdo victims.

Boyhood best

Coming of age tale Boyhood won the coveted Golden Globe for best drama yesterday, while the quirky period caper The Grand Budapest Hotel was the surprise winner for best comedy or musical, in a big upset to awards season front-runner Birdman.