Viola Davis felt like an "outsider" at the glitzy Golden Globe Awards last night.

The actress mingled with fellow nominees Meryl Streep, Charlize Theron and Michelle Williams at a pre-awards bash ahead of the main event last night.

Viola enjoyed tea and nibbles at the afternoon party in Beverly Hills, but revealed that she still feels out of place at prestigious industry events.

"I am definitely enjoying it, but I still see myself as an outsider. But it is wonderful to be part of this," she told the New York Post.

Viola has risen to prominence since starring as Aibileen Clark in the film adaptation of The Help. She has garnered much critical acclaim for her performance in the award-winning drama.

Meanwhile, there has been reported conflict over the A-list presenters of both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. Academy Awards executives allegedly warned stars that presenting at the Golden Globes last night could prevent them from appearing on the Oscars stage next month.

Jennifer Lopez was one of the celebrities to pull out of hosting an award at the Globes last night.

"There have been complaints about this from the studios and the agencies. The Globes lost Jennifer Lopez as a presenter, but many other stars took the view that they don't want to be told what to do," a source added to the US publication.

A representative for Jennifer didn't comment on the reports.

Tom Sherak, Academy Award Academy President, said in a statement: "The academy has always placed a premium on exclusivity, but, ultimately, each individual makes his or her own decisions."