- By Emma Saunders
- Cultural reporter
February 19, 2024, 01:24 GMT
Updated 34 minutes ago
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Watch: Highlights from the Bafta Awards 2024
What a night at the Bafta Film Awards. It's not just about Oppenheimer winning the most prizes.
David Tennant brought a dog, Barry Keoghan showed his love for Sophie Ellis-Bextor and our favorite US star Da'Vine Joy Randolph headed to Chiwetel Ejiofor. That's what we're here for.
Here are some of the best moments you may have missed from the ceremony and behind the scenes.
Bring on the Anglophiles
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Robert Downey Jr. won best supporting actor for his role in “Oppenheimer.”
There wasn't a single British man up for Best Actor or Supporting Actor this year, and Rosamund Pike, who was nominated for Supporting Actress, told us on the red carpet: “I don't have a lot of confidence in the British who stand up for their own interests… that means me.” I was very happy about the nomination.
But we don't mind after the Brits received plenty of support from across the pond, thanks to Emma Stone and Robert Downey Jr, two of Sunday night's big winners.
Stone began her acceptance speech for best actress in “Poor Things” by thanking her dialect coach. “He didn't laugh at me when I had to say 'water.' [in an English accent]. Backstage, she also learned a new bit of British slang when she was asked a question about “having chinwag.”
Read more about the Baftas
warhorse
Meanwhile, US comedian and actor Keegan Michael-Key presented an award entirely in an English accent and best supporting actor winner Downey Jr. said he owed his award in part to the “British sensibility” of Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan.
Not to mention fellow US star Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who is a fully paid-up Anglophile. She began her career in London's West End in “Ghost the Musical” and previously studied at the British American Drama Academy in Oxford.
“I always came in [to London] “I saw plays and saw War Horse at the National Theater and that changed my life,” she said backstage.
“It was so great that I called my school [back in the US] and said, 'I'm not coming back, I want to stay here.' So you taught me the classics and I'm obsessed with Pinter and all that stuff.”
More Da'Vine joy
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Da'Vine seemed delighted with her new companion
She truly is the gift that keeps on giving. Earlier in the evening, she took the stage to accept her award for best supporting actress for her role as grieving mother Mary in “The Holdovers.”
When she accepted the award from “12 Years a Slave” star Chiwetel Ejiofor, she couldn't help but tell him, “You look so good.” And he actually looked good in a classic black tuxedo.
She teared up while talking about her co-star Paul Giamatti and again when talking about her character. “There have been countless Marys throughout history who have never had the opportunity to wear a beautiful dress and stand on this stage here in London. Telling your story is a responsibility I don’t take lightly.” We were doing well too.
She later made journalists cry with laughter when she used a well-known British word that began with “b” when asked about the strange decision to release “The Holdovers” in the UK in January, even though it is set during the Christmas period . We are sure you can guess which word we are referring to.
Kudos to the Oppenhomies
Best Actor winner Cillian Murphy probably made his teenage sons cringe when he thanked his “Oppenhomies” in his acceptance speech, but we were thrilled.
He is the first Irish-born artist to win the Bafta for best actor and said: “I'm a really proud Irishman, it means a lot to me.” He added: “People were coming up in the street me and said they had seen the film.” [Oppenheimer] five, six, seven times… it's very humbling… and it's been a brilliant year for cinema.”
If it's three hours long, six or seven repetitions might be a bit too much.
Tennant triumphs
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David Tennant also brought dog supplies
Host David Tennant was a huge success this year, with his natural enthusiasm proving infectious and a really funny script. And how many men could get away with a combination of kilt, sporran and glittery epaulettes?
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Tennant also had some fun with the Barbie crew, introducing “the ugly corner” as the camera panned to gorgeous couple Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the audience. A highlight was also the end of the show with “Come on Barbie, let’s go party”.
Michael J Fox was a moment
Since then, the 62-year-old has raised millions for research into the disease and also raised awareness through the Michael J Fox Foundation. Many on social media said his performance brought them to tears.
Saltburn's night was bittersweet
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Sophie Ellis-Bextor performed with a troupe of fashionable dancers
While Emerald Fennell's twisted thriller didn't convert any of its five nominations into awards, it still dominated the headlines when Sophie Ellis Bextor took the stage to perform “Murder on the Dancefloor.” Their 2002 title has had something of a renaissance since it was used in the film's infamous final scene, in which Barry Keoghan's character Oliver dances naked on his land pile.
Luckily, Barry didn't feel the need to re-enact his performance and instead stayed safely in his seat. However, the camera pointed to him at the end and he seemed to have really enjoyed the show.
Hugh Grant's expressionless joy
“Oompa-loompa, doompity-dee, now the best director in the category-ee, Oompa Loompa doompity-dong, most of these films were honestly too long, Oompa Loompa doompity daa, but for some reason the nominees…”
War in the spotlight
However, it wasn't all frivolous fun. “Zone of Interest” won three awards, including outstanding British film. It tells the frightening story of the head of Auschwitz, who lives next to the extermination camp with his young family.
Producer James Wilson said in his acceptance speech for best film not in English: “Walls are nothing new from before or after the Holocaust and it seems stark right now that we should care about innocent people in Gaza, in the Yemen or be killed in Mariupol.” or Israel.”
20 Days in Mariupol received the award for best documentary film. Its director, Mstyslav Chernov, gave an emotional interview to the BBC's Colin Paterson and said he hoped he would still be alive by next year's Baftas. His film documents a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol, documenting the atrocities of the Russian invasion.
Backstage he said: “We are giving Ukrainians a voice. We keep reminding the world of what is happening. Another city has just been occupied by Russia, so it's more important than ever to be here and continue to talk about it. This award is for the people of Mariupol. You saved our lives. They helped us every step of the way.”
Samantha Morton dedicates the award to children in care
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Morton, who has had a successful television career on shows such as “The Walking Dead” and has appeared in films such as “Minority Report” and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”, was awarded the Bafta Fellowship, the world's highest honor, this year Organization.
She grew up in the foster care system and told the audience how important it was for people with her background to be represented in film and television.
“The first time I saw Ken Loach’s Kes on a giant television wheeled into my classroom I was forever changed.
“When I saw poverty and people like me on screen, I realized myself – representation matters.”
She said she would tell her younger self, “You matter, don't give up, the stories we tell have the power to change people's lives.”
“The film changed my life, it changed me and it brought me here today. I dedicate this award to every child who is in care or has been in care and did not survive.”
Speaking behind the scenes about the challenges facing the British film industry, she said: “We can't just be a service industry for the wonderful Americans… we need our own investment. But if our government just gives us a minister of culture and sport, that's better than separating that and figuring out what we do… it's a billion dollar industry. And it’s stupid of them not to understand that.”
Matthew Perry upset
There was some consternation that the former Friends star was not mentioned in the In Memoriam segment. But Bafta said he would be included in the obituary montage for the television awards in May.