Her life and career as an Olympic figure skater was adapted into the blockbuster film I, Tonya.
And Tonya Harding, 47, struggled to hold back the tears on Sunday as Allison Janney sang her praises after scooping the award for Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes.
During her acceptance speech, the West Wing star pointed to the former ice skater in the audience and thanked her for ‘sharing her story’ – and the pair were later seen partying up a storm together.
Emotional: Tonya Harding, 47, struggled to hold back the tears on Sunday as Allison Janney sang her praises after scooping the award for Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes
‘I would just like to thank Tonya [Harding] for sharing her story,’ Allison said.
‘What this movie did is tell a story about class in America, tell a story about the disenfranchised, tell the story about a woman who was not embraced for her individuality, tell a story about truth and the perception of truth in the media and truths we all tell ourselves.
‘It’s an extraordinary movie, and I’m so proud of it.’
Celebrating in style: Tonya and Allison toasted the actress’ Best Actress win at the after party
Leading lady: She also posed alongside actress Margot Robbie, who stars in the award-winning film
The American former ice skater looked touched by Allison’s mention, holding her hands to her chest and fighting back tears as Zac Efron looked on.
Ahead of the award ceremony, Tonya oozed glamour on the red carpet as she showed off her hourglass physique in a glitzy black dress.
Featuring thousands of sequins, the full-length gown clung to her curves before
She styled her long blonde tresses in a sleek straight look and accentuated her youthful complexion with blush-swept cheeks and a pink lip.
Special mention: During her acceptance speech, the West Wing star pointed to the former ice skater (pictured) in the audience and thanked her for ‘sharing her story’
I, Tonya tells the true story of the disgraced figure skater, with Allison playing the athlete’s mother LaVona Fay Golden while Margot Robbie plays Tonya. It also recounts details of the hardships Harding faced as the daughter of an abusive mother and wife of an abusive husband.
Earlier this month it was reported that she was finally stating once and for all that she was aware of a possible plot to attack one of her fellow competitors ahead of the 1994 Olympic Games.
‘I knew something was up,’ said Harding of a knee clubbing that nearly ended Nancy Kerrigan’s career.
Touched: The American former ice skater looked touched by Allison’s mention, holding her hands to her chest and fighting back tears as Zac Efron looked on
Her story: I, Tonya tells the true story of the disgraced figure skater, with Allison playing the athlete’s mother LaVona Fay Golden while Margot Robbie plays Tonya
She denies playing any role in planning the attack however, which was later revealed to have been set up by her husband Jeff Gillooly and bodyguard Shawn Eckardt, who Harding describes as ‘dumb as a post.’
‘I did, however, overhear them talking about stuff where, “well, maybe we should take somebody out to make sure she gets on the team.” I go what the hell are you talking about?’ Harding confessed in the ABC special Truth and Lies: The Tonya Harding Story
It marked the first time she has plainly stated she knew that another American figure skater might be attacked.
Harding later said that she viewed herself as a ‘pawn’ who ‘paid the ultimate price’ for the assault on her fellow figure skater, which was carried out by hired hand Shane Stant. ‘I’m always the bad person. And I never understood that,’ said Harding.
Ice skater Tonya Harding (pictured, in 1994) has previously admitted that she knew of a possible plot to attack one of her fellow competitors ahead of the 1994 Olympic games. But she claimed she was a ‘pawn’ who ‘paid the ultimate’ price for the knee-clubbing carried out by a hired hand that nearly ended Nancy Kerrigan’s career
She initially denied having any knowledge of the situation and in the end Kerrigan, who was attacked as she left a practice facility, recovered and won Silver at the Lillehammer Games, while Harding finished in eighth and left the sport in disgrace.
In March of that year, Harding pleaded guilty to conspiring to hinder prosecution of the attackers and was put on probation and ordered to perform community service.
Soon after, Harding was stripped of her 1994 US Championship title and banned from participating in US Figure Skating Association events as either a skater or a coach for the rest of her life.
I, Tonya has become a critical success, garnering rave reviews and award nominations.
Allison and Margot both won Golden Globes for their performances, but the film itself narrowly missed out on Best Motion Picture- Musical or Comedy.
Blockbuster: The black comedy has become a critical success, garnering rave reviews and award nominations
Success: Seven-time Primetime Emmy Award winner, Allison, 58, also gushed over her co-star Margot Robbie, who plays the disgraced ice-skater in the critically acclaimed film
Seven-time Primetime Emmy Award winner, Allison, 58, also gushed over her co-star Margot Robbie, who plays the disgraced ice-skater in the critically acclaimed film.
‘Margot set the bar for all of us with her incredible fearlessness approaching this role, her incredible commitment to it, she made my job so much easier,’ Allison added.
The veteran actress also singled out the film’s Australia director, Craig Gillespie, who is also behind such hits as the Ryan Gosling comedy, Lars and The Real Girl.
‘It has been a true labour of love for me working on this movie, especially with two of your finest — Margot Robbie and Craig Gillespie — who I couldn’t love or be inspired more by’, Allison gushed.
Full of praise: The veteran actress also singled out the film’s Australia director, Craig Gillespie, who is also behind such hits as the Ryan Gosling comedy, Lars and The Real Girl
The West Wing star beat Nicole Kidman, Mary J. Blidge, Abbie Cornish and Laurie Metcalf in her category.
Margot also took home the International AACTA for Best Actress, strengthening talk that she could secure her first Oscar nomination when the shortlist of names are unveiled on January 23.
The talented Australian blonde will next be seen in the historical drama, Mary Queen of Scots.
Award-winner: Margot also took home the International AACTA for Best Actress, strengthening talk that she could secure her first Oscar nomination when the shortlist of names are unveiled on January 23
Flawless: Margot looked immaculate with her blonde locks styled in loose waves, while opting for a plum lip as her standout makeup feature
Showing her solidarity: The Australian actress, 27, joined the rest of Hollywood in wearing black to show their support for victims of sexual harassment and assault