British film newcomer Robert Aramayo has been named best actor at the BAFTAs – beating favourite Timothee Chalamet and other A-listers including Leonardo DiCaprio to win the prize.
Aramayo won the award for his performance in I Swear, which tells the real-life story of Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson, while Irish actress Jessie Buckley was named best actress for her performance in the Shakespeare biopic Hamnet.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s comedy-thriller One Battle After Another, starring DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti and Sean Penn, was the biggest winner of the night, picking up six BAFTAs including best film, best director, and supporting actor for Penn.
Accepting the best film award, Anderson – who had earlier almost dropped his BAFTA for best adapted screenplay – said it was a “tremendous honour”, adding: “Anybody who says that movies aren’t good any more can piss right off because this is a great f***ing year.”
Prince William, who is president of BAFTA, and Kate were in the room to cheer the winners on, alongside other stars including nominees Emma Stone and Kate Hudson, music stars Little Simz, Stormzy and Jessie Ware, and Kylie Jenner – here in the UK to support her boyfriend Chalamet.
Snacks for the stars
Host Alan Cumming brought some humour to the show, offering snacks to the A-listers – Jammie Dodgers for Chalamet and Jenner, Twiglets for Rose Byrne, and an oaty flapjack for DiCaprio (who said it sounded “fantastic”).
During his speech, Aramayo was cheered on by his dad, and became emotional as he told the BAFTAs audience: “I honestly cannot believe that I have 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 in to speak to us in Julliard and he gave an amazing talk on longevity as an actor, about protecting your instrument and avoiding self-destructive behaviours, and it had a great impact on everyone in the room.
“So to be in this category with you tonight is incredible. Thank you, Ethan.”
The award was his second of the night, coming not long after he had accepted the rising star prize – the only one to be chosen by a public vote – and I Swear also picked up a third award for its casting.
‘Nuclear bad fake tan’
In contrast to Aramayo, Buckley was the favourite to win the best actress award after picking up the prize at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes earlier this year. She is the first Irish star to take home the prize.
“As a little girl, I never in a million years thought I would get to make a film,” she said in her speech.
Recalling her early days as an actress, she said: “I had nuclear bad fake tan on, white hoop earrings, a polka-dot red skirt and had the audacity to say one day I wanted to be like Judi Dench.”
Buckley, who rose to fame on the talent show I’d Do Anything, coming runner-up in the series’ search to find a lead to play Nancy in the 2009 West End revival of the British musical Oliver, said it was “nuts” to be on stage, winning a BAFTA, and paid tribute to the “women past, present and future who taught me and continue to teach me how to do it differently”.
Addressing her fellow nominees, the Irish actress said: “You are all just radical and you are doing it for the naughty girls, and I’m in awe of all your incredible performances.”
She also dedicated the award to her daughter, saying: “It’s the best role of my life being your mum and I promise to continue to be disobedient so you can belong to a world in all your complete wildness as a young woman. I am very grateful for this.”
Read more on the BAFTAs:
The full list of winners
The best red carpet fashion
Wins for Sinners and Frankenstein
Paul Mescal plays Shakespeare alongside Buckley, who plays his wife, Agnes, in Hamnet. The film tells the story of the death of their son, Hamnet, from the plague, and how Shakespeare was inspired to write Hamlet.
Buckley’s win was one of two for the film, which also picked up the prize for outstanding British film.
Arts and entertainment correspondent
Hugging his dad as his name was called, Robert Aramayo was the big BAFTA surprise this year – a relative unknown beating the likes of favourite Timothee Chalamet and awards veteran Leonardo DiCaprio.
BAFTA has form for going its own way, especially when it comes to recognising British films that may not break through in Hollywood, and Aramayo’s performance in I Swear stopped critics in their tracks.
This was also a night that saw the big American films rising to the top. Vampire horror Sinners took home three gongs, including best supporting actress for British star Wunmi Mosaku, as did Frankenstein.
But One Battle After Another – a film that has felt increasingly timely, with authority seen as unpredictable, militarised and with the power to destabilise entire neighbourhoods – was the night’s big winner.
As he accepted the award for best film, Anderson said: “I know what freedom is – it’s filmmaking without fear… See you at the bar.”
A sentiment worth celebrating.
Producer Sir Sam Mendes acknowledged the other nominees in the category and said: “We are not great as an industry or a culture for patting ourselves on the back, but perhaps we should.”
Elsewhere, period vampire horror Sinners, starring Michael B Jordan, picked up three awards, including best supporting actress for British star Wunmi Mosaku, and the prizes for original screenplay and score. Frankenstein, starring Jacob Elordi, also won three – for costume, make-up and hair, and production design.
