Christopher Nolan’s epic Oppenheimer was the big winner of the night, taking home seven prizes, whilst Frankenstein-inspired Poor Things bagged five, and Holocaust drama The Zone of Interest won three. This is the first time that legendary director Nolan has won a BAFTA, despite being Britain’s most successful filmmaker. Cillian Murphy also took home the leading actor BAFTA for his role as the titular character, thanking his Oppenhomies in his speech, whilst Robert Downey Jr collected the trophy for his supporting role as Lewis Strauss. Accepting the award, the Hollywood A-Lister paid tribute to Christopher Nolan saying that “recently that dude suggested I attempt an understated approach as a last-ditch effort to resurrect my dwindling credibility.”
Emma Stone took home leading actress for her role as Bella Baxter in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, a whimsical adaption of the literary classic Frankenstein, which was met with critical acclaim. Elsewhere, actress Da’vine Joy Randolph won an award for her role as Mary Lamb in Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, joking that it had all been worth it thanks to the good looks of Chiwetel Ejiofor, who had just presented her with the prize. Her win at this year’s BAFTAs likely cements a widely predicted win at the Oscars in March for best supporting actress too.
The show featured two musical performances, one from Hannah Waddingham in the in memoriam segment of the show and the other from Sophie Ellis-Bexter with her hit Murder on the Dancefloor. The song, which was first released in 2001, has recently had a resurgence in the charts thanks to its inclusion in Emerald Fennell’s psychological thriller Saltburn where Barry Keoghan’s Oliver Quick risque dance left little to the imagination. However, the film itself would win no awards that evening, despite receiving five nominations.
Accepting the award for best film not in the English language, The Zone of Interest’s producer James Wilson paid tribute to those currently in zones of conflict, naming Gaza, Yemen, Mariupol and Israel. His statement drew a large round of applause from the audience.
Taking home the prestigious BAFTA Fellow prize, actress Samantha Morton said her win was “nothing short of a miracle” and dedicated it to “every child in care, or who has been in care and who didn't survive." Mia Mckenna-Bruce won the BAFTA rising star award following a public vote, beating out fellow nominees Ayo Edeberi, Sophie Wilde, Jacob Elordi, and Phoebe Dynevor. Mckenna-Bruce starred in the come-of-age film How To Have Sex and became emotional as she thanked her “beautiful baby boy” and her family.
It was a thrill to see Michael J. Fox present the biggest award of the night for best picture. The Back to the Future star, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s when he was 29, received a standing ovation, and makes very few public appearances.
