British rising star beats A-listers in acting at BAFTA – One Battle After Another wins best film
British film newcomer Robert Aramayo has been named best actor at the BAFTAs – beating other A-listers, including favourites Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio, to the award.
Aramayo won the award for her performance in I Swear, which tells the real-life story of Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson, while Irish actress Jessie Buckley She was awarded Best Actress for her performance in the Shakespeare biopic Hamnet.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s comedy-thriller One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infinity and Sean Penn, was the night’s biggest winner with six points at the BAFTAs, which includes Best Film, Best Director and Supporting Actor for Penn.
Accepting the Best Film award, Anderson – who had previously almost had his BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay handed down – said it was a “tremendous honour”, adding, “Anyone who says movies aren’t good anymore can immediately take offence because this is a great rubbish year.”
Prince William, who is president of BAFTA, and Kate were in the room to cheer on the winners, along with nominees Emma Stone and Kate Hudson, music stars Little Simz, Stormzy and Jessie Ware and Kylie Jenner – among other stars here in the UK to support her boyfriend, Chalamet.
The cast and crew of Hamnet accept the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film. Image: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images for BAFTA
breakfast for the stars
Host Alan Cumming brought some humour to the show, offering snacks to the A-listers—Jamie Dodgers for Chalamet and Jenner, Twiglets for Rose Byrne, and an OT Flapjack for DiCaprio (who said it looked “fantastic”).
During her speech, Aramayo was cheered on by her father and became emotional when she told the BAFTA audience: “I honestly can’t believe I’ve won this award.”
The 33-year-old, who grew up in Hull, thanked fellow nominee Ethan Hawke and said, “Everyone in this category blows me away.
“When I was in school, Ethan Hawke came to speak to us at Juilliard, and he gave a wonderful speech about longevity as an actor, protecting your instrument, and avoiding self-destructive behaviour, and it had a great impact on everyone in the room.
“So it’s incredible to be in this category with you tonight. Thank you, Ethan.”
The award was her second of the night, coming shortly after she accepted the Rising Star Award— the only award chosen by public vote – and I Swear also received a third award for its casting.
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner in the audience. Photo: Scott Garfitt/BAFTA via Getty Images
‘Nuclear bad fake tan’
Unlike Aramayo, Buckley was the favourite to win Best Actress after winning awards at the Critics’ Choice Awards and Golden Globes earlier this year. She is the first Irish star to win this award.
“As a little girl, I never in a million years thought I would get the chance to make a movie,” she said in her speech.
Recalling her early days as an actress, she said, “I had a nuclear-bad fake tan, white hoop earrings and a polka-dot red skirt and one day I had the courage to say I wanted to be like Judi Dench.”
Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku won Best Supporting Actress. Picture: Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
Buckley, who rose to fame on the talent show I’d Do Anything and was runner-up in the 2009 lead search for the role of Nancy in the West End revival of the British musical Oliver, said it was “insane” to be on stage, winning a BAFTA, and paid tribute to “the women of the past, present, and future who have taught me and will continue to teach me how to do it differently.”
Addressing her fellow nominees, the Irish actress said, “You are all radicals and you are doing this for naughty girls, and I am in awe of all your incredible performances.”
She dedicated the award to her daughter, saying, “Being your mother is the best job of my life and I promise that I will remain defiant so that you can remain connected to your perfect wild world as a young woman. I am so grateful for that.”
Read more on BAFTA:
Full list of winners
best red carpet fashion
Bugonia star Emma Stone was one of the A-listers on the red carpet. Picture: James Manning/PA
Sinners and Frankenstein’s Victory
Paul Mescal plays Shakespeare opposite Buckley, who plays his wife Agnes in Hamnet. The film tells the story of his son Hamnet’s death from the plague and how Shakespeare was inspired to write Hamlet.
Buckley’s win was one of two for the film, which also won Outstanding British Film.
BAFTA takes its course for Best Actor – and a second win after a battle gives even more reason to celebrate
As his name was called, embracing his father, Robert Aramayo was this year’s biggest surprise at the Baftas – a relative unknown beating out favourite Timothée Chalamet and awards veteran Leonardo DiCaprio.
BAFTA has a way of having its own way, especially when it comes to recognising British films that may not be successful in Hollywood, and Aramayo’s performance in I Swear stopped critics in their tracks.
The night also saw the triumph of major American films. Vampire horror Sinners won three awards, including Best Supporting Actress for British star Wunmi Mosaku, as Frankenstein.
But One Battle After Another – a film that feels increasingly timely, one whose authority is seen as unpredictable, militarised, and with the power to destabilise entire neighbourhoods – was the big winner of the night.
As he accepted the award for Best Picture, Anderson said, “I know what freedom is – it’s filmmaking without fear… See you at the bar.”
A feeling worth celebrating.
Producer Sir Sam Mendes acknowledged the other nominees in the category and said, “As an industry or culture, we’re not great at patting ourselves on the back, but maybe we should.”
Elsewhere, period vampire horror Sinners starring Michael B. Jordan won three awards, including best supporting actress for British star Wunmi Mosaku and awards for original screenplay and score. Frankenstein, starring Jacob Elordi, also won three awards – for costumes, make-up and hair, and production design.
