HOLLYWOOD—The North Carolina-filmed series Homeland walked away with two Golden Globe trophies at the Hollywood Foreign Press’ annual awards show Sunday night.

The series was named Best Television Drama, knocking off last year’s winner Boardwalk Empire.  In addition, Claire Danes, Homeland’s leading lady, was honored as Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama.  This is the second time Danes has won the Lead Actress in a Television Drama-her first coming 17 years ago for her work on the series My So Called Life.  Danes also earned a Globe last year for her role in the HBO movie Temple Grandin. 

Homeland, which just finished airing its inaugural season on Showtime and is from the creative team that produced 24, has garnered numerous award nominations and has been named one of the ten best of 2011 by the American Film Institute and has even been named a favorite by President Barack Obama.

Filmed in the Charlotte Region, Homeland centers on the fictitious character Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody (played by Damian Lewis who was also nominated for a Golden Globe), who returns home eight years after going missing in Iraq, and Carrie Mathison (Danes), a driven CIA officer who suspects Brody might be plotting an attack on America.  The series has been a hit for Showtime with the premiere being Showtime’s most watched in over eight years and subsequent episodes maintaining a viewership of at least one million.  The show has created 150 crew positions and over 3,500 talent opportunities while having a direct spend of over $30 million in the state.

The series has confirmed it will return to North Carolina for its second season with production expected to get underway in the Spring.