Goodness gracious, it’s only the 2016 BAFTAs. We’ve pulled out our best garments and polished our shiniest of shoes in preparation for this wonderfully British celebration of movieland’s biggest and brightest.
If you can’t wait for the BBC’s coverage of the ceremony at 9pm tonight, Empire is the place to be. We’ll be with you from the red carpet right through to the winner of Best Film — so naturally spoilers lie ahead. Just keeping hitting that refresh button for the latest from London’s Royal Opera House.
Stephen Fry is your host for the 11th time, so expect much congratumalating, salutiffitations and jokes too racy for broadcast below.
So, ladies and gentlemen, without further ado:
5:00pm
And we’re off! Only right to start with a JOHN BOYEGA KLAXON! The Rising Star nominee is grinning his way down the red carpet as he signs autographs for lots of happy, Stormtrooper-loving fans.
5:08pm
Rising Star Bel Powley is a little bit excited. «I’ve been watching the BAFTAs my whole life, so it means a lot… I’m about to start shooting a movie with Elle Fanning about Mary Shelley, another female powerhouse… It’s about the women rather than the men.»
5:11pm
Alicia Vikander has arrived. «I’m just thrilled to be here… I thought [Alex Garland] had written one of the best scripts I had ever read.»
And of course, Jason Bourne gets a mention: «I’m a huge fan of the previous films… It’s been wonderful and we’re just finishing up in London right now.»
5:14pm
John Boyega takes time out from his adoring fans to have a little word on the red carpet. «I still have the separation between the Star Wars world and home… it’s a healthy balance right now… I went to Waitrose this morning and bought a Belgian bun and no one bothered me!»
And as for Episode VIII? «I start tomorrow… Rian [Johnson, director] has my heart already.»
5:21pm
Who is this ‘John’ everybody keeps shouting for? (Boyega is a strong contender for 2016’s best dressed.)
5:31pm
Bryan Cranston has arrived, looking as debonair as ever. There’s a lot of Walter White photos for him to sign. Naturally. Now we can’t stop imagining Dalton Trumbo writing a Breaking Bad-esque caper.
5:34pm
On the red carpet scream-o-meter, Michael Fassbender is rivalling John Boyega, FYI. Watch this space for more screamy rivalry updates.
5:35pm
Saoirse is VERY COLD. «When I was about 16 I had read [Brooklyn]… It’s obviously been one of the most wonderful experiences I have ever had.»
5:42pm
Cate Blanchett’s dress. We repeat: Cate Blanchett’s dress.
5:44pm
The Ruffaluffaluffalo is here. How will Spotlight fare tonight? Stick with us to find out.
5:45pm
How cold is Steve Jobs star Michael Fassbender on a scale of one to ten? «I’ve just come from Norway, so was really cold there!… It’s just so rare to get writing like [Aaron Sorkin’s]. [Danny Boyle is] a wonderful man, a master filmmaker and a real craftsman… He was instrumental in offering me the part and also filming in San Francisco which was such an important thing. He was wonderful.»
And what of co-star Winslet? «Lots of fun! She’s a class act. I love her. She’s so much fun, she’s brilliant… She’s very generous and also just really a leader… Always making sure everyone’s doing well and getting enough rest!»
«I hope people are excited [about Assassin’s Creed]! It’s a very special experience to be producing it as well… There’s very little green screen which is very rare these days… I think it’s going to be pretty unique.»
5:48pm
Mr. Cranston is having a lovely time on the «chilly and lovely» red carpet. «Such warmth and embracing fans out here tonight… I just apprecitate the love, it’s great to receive it!… Elle Fanning gave me these cufflinks… that’s me in the bathtub [as in Trumbo]!»
5:50pm
Mark Ruffalo time, people. «What we’re talking about is essentially life or death for a lot of people. It was so important that we got it right because at the end of the day I think there are a lot of people who would like to see [Spotlight] not do so well.»
5:52pm
Spielberg alert! How is he feeling about his hefty amount of BAFTA nominations? «It’s thrilling!… Here is a British writer [Matt Charman] who is telling an American director a piece of history that I knew nothing about.»
«[Mark Rylance is] a force of nature as you all know! He’s a beautiful person. He’s going to be The BFG and he’s incredible as the Big Friendly Giant.
5:56pm
Best Supporting Actress nominee also has lovely things to say about Steve Jobs co-star Michael Fassbender. «I feel really I’m here because of [Fassbender]. It was an enormous undertaking for him… I’d have to be a crazy person not to throw myself under a bus for that role!»
6:09pm
Aaron Sorkin is feeling the Steve Jobs love. «I couldn’t be more excited. Michael and Kate were just a dream to work with, they’re two of the best actors in the world… The honour is being nominated along with these other great screenplays.»
So what’s next for the wordplay king? «I’ve written a new movie and I’m going to be directing it actually… I’m adapting To Kill A Mockingbird for Broadway… I’m very excited, it’s also very daunting. It’s a novel that’s revered and that we all love but I think it’s going to be a great theatrical experience.»
6:14pm
DiCapriklaxon.
6:16pm
Does Eddie Redmayne think he can do the double after last year’s BAFTA win for The Theory Of Everything? «I doubt it very much, but I’m thrilled to be invited!… It all felt pretty new to me last year, but there’s still an adrenaline buzz.»
6:18pm
Rooney Mara has a lot of love for Carol director, Todd Haynes. «I think Todd did such an amazing job of capturing the essence of falling in love… I knew it was going to be beautiful, but I really was just blown away by how beautiful it was.»
Unsurprisingly, Mara has no idea what her new Malick project is about because, duh, it’s a Malick.
6:22pm
The Big Short director Adam McKay can’t believe his luck. «This is crazy!… I read the book in one night and just couldn’t put it down… We all know the first rule of filmschool is ‘show, don’t tell’, but we all knew we had to break the fourth wall for this one.»
6:26pm
Has The Revenant‘s Will Poulter recovered from last year’s Rising Star win? «It is still very much like a nervous blur in my mind, but I remember it very fondly now.»
He also spoke about his time on Iñárritu’s gruelling shoot: «I think [I grew] a lot as a person… I feel like now I’m kind of ready for challenges I wasn’t before.»
6:28pm
THE TUCC! What are his thoughts on the importance of Spotlight? «[It’s] a really important film and the more nominations it gets, the more people will see it… You want to be as truthful as possible to the story, to the characters. The more truthful you are, the better the film.»
He’s about to start shooting a new film with Geoffrey Rush tomorrow! Get some sleep, Stanley!
6:31pm
The Dris, Idris Elba, LOOFA. «I feel really good… It’s Valentine’s night, there’s love in the air!»
On his BAFTA-nominated role in Beasts Of No Nation: «He’s a bad guy but I needed to bring some sort of humanity to him… It’s one of my proudest roles, for sure.»
On his wonderful young co-star Abraham Attah’s performance: «it’s very pure, it’s heartbreakingly pure… I was very nervous about how he was being psychologically affected… But he just took it on the chin… It’s one of those horrible moments in our world when it was on the TV a lot and then this film brought it all back… the story feels like it’s still relevant.»
And any nuggets on that little film called Star Trek Beyond? «Who’s in Star Trek?» he jokes, «I can’t wait for people to see it.»
6:38pm
Domhnall Gleeson is this year’s crazy-super-nominee, with all four films he appeared in over the past twelve months (Brooklyn, Star Wars, The Revenant, Ex Machina) nominated tonight. So is he a lucky charm? «Yes, I’ve decided that’s what I am, yes!… I’m very proud to be in any film of Alex’s [Garland, director of Ex Machina] because I really feel for the work he does.»
http://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/baftas-2016/
