Oppenheimer, Poor Things and The Zone Of Interest were all big winners at the 2024 BAFTAs.
Cillian Murphy, who stars as “father of the atomic bomb” J Robert Oppenheimer, was named best actor – the first Irish star to win the award – while co-star Robert Downey Jr was honoured in the supporting category.
Accepting his trophy, Murphy thanked his “Oppen-homies” and described his character as “colossally knotty,” adding: “We have a space to debate and interrogate and investigate that complexity and it’s a privilege to be a part of this community with you all.“
For Christopher Nolan, the film’s acclaimed British director – also known for Inception, The Dark Knight, and Dunkirk – the “incredible honour” of his first ever BAFTA was a case of third time lucky.
He paid tribute to the film’s cast, led by the “peerless” Murphy, as he accepted the award.
Downey Jr, who plays Lewis Strauss, head of the Atomic Energy Commission, set a new record for the longest gap between wins by an actor – with his latest trophy coming 31 years after his first BAFTA for Chaplin in 1993. Sir Anthony Hopkins was the previous title holder, with 27 years between his wins in 1994 and 2021.
On stage, Downey Jr thanked Nolan, joking: “Recently that dude suggested I attempt an understated approach as a last ditch effort to resurrect my dwindling credibility.“
Oppenheimer’s seven BAFTAs equalled last year’s wins by All Quiet On The Western Front, and were just two short of equalling the all-time record of nine, set by Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid in 1971.
The other big winners
It was also a successful night for Emma Stone, who was named best actress for her performance in Poor Things, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph – who took home the supporting actress trophy for her portrayal of a grieving school chef in The Holdovers.
Stone‘s win was one of five for Poor Things, in which she plays a woman with the mind of a child discovering life for the first time, making the film the night’s second big winner.
The American actress said she was “in awe” of all of the team behind the surreal comedy, and thanked her British dialect coach for “not laughing” when she said water in an American accent.
All four acting winners are among the favourites to take home prizes at the Oscars in March.
In her speech, Randolph paid tribute to her co-star and fellow nominee, Paul Giamatti, saying she “cries every time” she says his name.
“I’m proud to call you a friend and thank you for never wavering,” she said.
She also hailed her character Mary, who would “never would have got a chance to wear a beautiful gown”, before saying it was a “responsibility I don’t take lightly”.
Elsewhere, Holocaust drama The Zone Of Interest took home three awards, including best film not in the English language – and also outstanding British film, due to British involvement behind the scenes, including Jonathan Glazer directing.
Despite being the biggest film of 2023, and heading into the ceremony with five nominations, Barbie left the BAFTAs empty-handed.
The show was hosted by David Tennant, who kicked things off with a Zoom-style sketch about looking after Michael Sheen’s dog, Bark Ruffalo – which ended with the dog being handed to the Welsh star at the ceremony.
There was also a performance from Sophie Ellis-Bextor – whose 2001 hit Murder On The Dancefloor has soared up the charts once again thanks to its inclusion in the particularly memorable final scene in viral hit film Saltburn.
Samantha Morton, known for films and TV shows including Minority Report, The Whale and The Walking Dead, was named this year’s BAFTA fellowship winner, the ceremony’s highest honour.
She dedicated the prize “to every child in care, or who has been in care and who didn’t survive“.
