Los Angeles, United States: Lady Gaga shed tears Sunday as she won a Golden Globe for her role in "American Horror Story: Hotel," saying she wanted to be an actress before becoming a singer.

Lady Gaga -- shunning her trademark sensational outfits for an elegant black evening gown by Versace and a Marilyn Monroe-esque hairdo -- said that she felt like Cher's overjoyed character in the 1987 film "Moonstruck."

"I wanted to be an actress before I wanted to be a singer, but music worked out first," Lady Gaga said as her tears turned to laughter.

She heaped praise on her family, fellow cast and "American Horror Story" co-creator Ryan Murphy, saying: "You are just a wonderful human being and you have believed in me so much and been such a good friend to me."

In "American Horror Story: Hotel," the fifth installment of the fright fest anthology, Lady Gaga plays a centenarian vampire who lives in a haunted Los Angeles hotel.

She won the Golden Globe for best actress in a made-for-television limited series or movie.

Born as Stefani Germanotta, Lady Gaga struggled in New York's art scene before becoming an international sensation starting with her 2008 debut album "The Fame," full of synthpop anthems and raw sexuality.

But Lady Gaga, who turns 30 in March, has increasingly toned down her public persona and has focused on pop and jazz standards in a recording and touring duet with 89-year-old singing legend Tony Bennett.