He couldn’t be there to accept his Golden Globe, but Russell Crowe has used his absence to redirect some of the award ceremony spotlight onto the bleak reality facing ordinary people far from the bright lights of Hollywood.

In a poignant message read out by Jennifer Aniston, the actor delivered a powerful indictment on the bushfire crisis threatening communities back home.

“Make no mistake, the tragedy unfolding in Australia is climate change based,” Aniston read from Crowe’s speech.

“We need to act based on science, move our global workforce to renewable energy, and respect our planet for the unique and amazing place it is. That way we all have a future. Thank you.”

Crowe won the Golden Globe award for his portrayal of former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes in The Loudest Voice.

But instead of attending the ceremony in Los Angeles, the 55-year-old was back in New South Wales protecting his property from the blazes threatening large parts of the state.

As stars celebrated at the industry’s glitzy night, Crowe shared a video of a truck loaded up with a red RFS fire helmet, hoses, blankets and other supplies he had at the ready “in case things get crazy”.

Finishing on a more light-hearted note, he appeared to show the Golden Globe trophy sitting in the back of his truck.

“And all the stuff you need for fighting fires,” Crowe joked.

Thanks to the @goldenglobes .
What a cast I got to work with.
Naomi Watts, @WallisAnnabelle Sienna Miller, Aleksa Palladino @JoshStamberg @SethMacFarlane Simon McBurney and everybody else. They created a complete world. Their commitment, sensitivity and courage was inspiring. pic.twitter.com/AW9PtKwKF3

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) January 6, 2020

Crowe received the Golden Globe for best actor in a limited series or motion picture made for television.

His Nana Glen property near Coffs Harbour was hit by bushfires a few weeks ago.

“Russell Crowe could not be with us tonight because he’s at home in Australia protecting his family from the devastating bushfires,” Aniston said.

In late November, when the fire season made a premature and devastating star, the actor spearheaded a $400,000 donation to the NSW Rural Fire Service, after pledging to match the price of a hat he auctioned off to raise money for the firefighters.

The Oscar winner had released video footage of the NSW bush scorched by fires not far from his property near Coffs Harbour.

He was not in the country when the bushfires hit property in November, and said at the time that his family was safe.

Cate Blanchett, on stage at the Golden Globe awards to introduce the best picture nominees, took time to thank Australia’s volunteer firefighters.

“I want to do a special call-out to the volunteer firefighters who have been at the centre of the climate disaster that has been facing Australia and, of course, when one country faces a climate disaster we all face a climate disaster,” Blanchett said.

Other stars at the usually glitzy ceremony offered their support for fire-ravaged Australia.

The Beverly Hills ceremony continually paused as Ellen DeGegeneres, Pierce Brosnan and other stars offered their support for the crisis.

Joaquin Phoenix, winner of the best dramatic actor award for Joker, went a step further and suggested the A-List crowd help the environment by not taking private planes.

The show’s host Ricky Gervais told the audience to “please donate to Australia”.