Mikey Madison wins Best Actress @BAFTA

Mikey Madison won the prestigious Best Actress award at the BAFTAs, delivering an emotional and heartfelt acceptance speech that resonated with audiences and industry professionals alike. Madison, known for her compelling performances and dedication to her craft, took a moment on stage to reflect on the journey that led her to this defining moment in her career.

She paid tribute to her mother, calling her the best scene partner she has ever had, and expressed deep gratitude for the unwavering support she received throughout the years. Madison acknowledged the countless auditions her mother drove her to and the effort she put into helping her prepare audition tapes, underscoring the importance of family support in an actor’s journey. Her words painted a picture of persistence, hard work, and the sacrifices that come with pursuing a career in the competitive world of film and television. Beyond expressing gratitude for her achievements.

Madison used her platform to shed light on a cause close to her heart. She took a moment to recognize the sex worker community, highlighting their right to dignity and respect. Her statement, “I just want to say that I see you. You deserve respect and human decency. I will always be a friend and ally,” was met with applause and appreciation, as it reinforced her commitment to advocacy and using her voice to support marginalized communities.

In an industry where award speeches often focus on personal triumphs, Madison’s decision to address social issues made her moment even more impactful. Her recognition of sex workers as deserving of fundamental human rights and dignity stood as a powerful statement of solidarity, further solidifying her reputation as not just a talented actress, but also a compassionate advocate for change.

On the same evening, Conclave emerged as the winner of the highly coveted Best Picture award, a victory that was celebrated by both critics and audiences. The film, praised for its masterful storytelling, thought-provoking themes, and outstanding performances, left a lasting impression on viewers and industry professionals alike. Directed with a keen sense of detail and narrative depth, Conclave explored themes of power, faith, and morality, weaving a gripping tale that captivated audiences from start to finish. Its win at the BAFTAs cemented its place as one of the most significant films of the year, further highlighting the power of cinema to tell compelling stories that resonate on a deep level.

The BAFTA ceremony was a night of celebration, honouring both individual and collective achievements in the film industry. While Madison’s win underscored the power of perseverance and advocacy, Conclave’s recognition as Best Picture showcased the impact of storytelling and the ability of cinema to provoke meaningful conversations. Together, these wins encapsulated the essence of the BAFTAs—acknowledging artistic excellence while also recognizing the role of film in shaping cultural and social dialogues. Madison’s heartfelt speech and Conclave’s triumph made the evening an unforgettable celebration of talent, purpose, and the enduring influence of cinema.

Notably missing from Sunday’s BAFTA Awards attendees list was Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón, who earned a leading actress nomination. However, her awards campaign imploded following the discovery of controversial posts made on her X (previously Twitter) account. The star — the first trans actor to be nominated for an Oscar — apologized, but tensions are said to be high between Gascón and streamer Netflix for hindering the film’s Oscar hopes. As a result, she was phased out of its awards campaign entirely. FERNTV says was very surprised at the winners at this awards show.

Best film

• Winner: Conclave
• Anora
• The Brutalist
• A Complete Unknown
• Emilia Pérez

Outstanding British film

• Winner: Conclave
• Bird
• Blitz
• Gladiator II
• Hard Truths
• Kneecap
• Lee
• Love Lies Bleeding
• The Outrun
• Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Leading actress

• Winner: Mikey Madison – Anora
• Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
• Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
• Marianne Jean-Baptiste – Hard Truths
• Demi Moore – The Substance
• Saoirse Ronan – The Outrun

Leading actor

• Winner: Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
• Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
• Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
• Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
• Hugh Grant – Heretic
• Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice

Supporting actress

• Winner: Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez
• Selena Gomez – Emilia Pérez
• Ariana Grande – Wicked
• Felicity Jones – The Brutalist
• Jamie Lee Curtis – The Last Showgirl
• Isabella Rossellini – Conclave

Supporting actor

• Winner: Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain
• Yura Borisov – Anora
• Clarence Maclin – Sing Sing
• Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
• Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
• Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice

Director

• Winner: The Brutalist – Brady Corbet
• Anora – Sean Baker
• Conclave – Edward Berger
• Dune: Part Two – Denis Villeneuve
• Emilia Pérez – Jacques Audiard
• The Substance – Coralie Fargeat

Bafta Fellowship

• Warwick Davis

Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer

• Winner: Kneecap
• Hoard
• Monkey Man
• Santosh
• Sister Midnight

Film not in the English language

• Winner: Emilia Pérez
• All We Imagine As Light
• I’m Still Here
• Kneecap
• The Seed of the Sacred Fig

Outstanding British contribution to cinema

• MediCinema, the British charity dedicated to improving the wellbeing of patients in NHS hospitals

Documentary

• Winner: Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
• Black Box Diaries
• Daughters
• No Other Land
• Will & Harper

Animated film

• Winner: Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
• Flow
• Inside Out 2
• The Wild Robot

Children’s and family film

• Winner: Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
• Flow
• Kensuke’s Kingdom
• The Wild Robot

Original screenplay

• Winner: A Real Pain
• Anora
• The Brutalist
• Kneecap
• The Substance

Adapted screenplay

• Winner: Conclave
• A Complete Unknown
• Emilia Pérez
• Nickel Boys
• Sing Sing

EE Bafta rising star award (voted for by the public)

• Winner: David Jonsson
• Marisa Abela
• Jharrel Jerome
• Mikey Madison
• Nabhaan Rizwan

Original score

• Winner: The Brutalist – Daniel Blumberg
• Conclave – Volker Bertelmann
• Emilia Pérez – Camille, Clément Ducol
• Nosferatu – Robin Carolan
• The Wild Robot – Kris Bowers

Casting

• Winner: Anora
• The Apprentice
• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Kneecap

Cinematography

• Winner: The Brutalist
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• Nosferatu

Costume design

• Winner: Wicked
• Blitz
• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Nosferatu

Editing

• Winner: Conclave
• Anora
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• Kneecap

Production design

• Winner: Wicked
• The Brutalist
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Nosferatu

Make-up and hair

• Winner: The Substance
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• Nosferatu
• Wicked

Sound

• Winner: Dune: Part Two
• Blitz
• Gladiator II
• The Substance
• Wicked

Special visual effects

• Winner: Dune: Part Two
• Better Man
• Gladiator II
• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• Wicked

British short film

• Winner: Rock, Paper, Scissors
• The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing
• Marion
• Milk
• Stomach Bug

British short animation

• Winner: Wander to Wonder
• Adiós
• Mog’s Christmas