In a surprise upset at the Baftas on Sunday, little-known British actor Robert Aramayo beat Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet to win Best Actor. The Hull-born star, who led the British drama I Swear, also took home the EE Rising Star award, marking a triumphant night for the emerging talent.
Fighting back tears during his acceptance speech, Aramayo said: “I absolutely can’t believe it. I can’t believe that I’m looking at people like you, in the same category as you, never mind that I’m stood here.” His film, which tells the story of Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson, also drew attention to the condition after host Alan Cumming apologised for involuntary tics heard during the ceremony.
Despite missing out on Best Actor, DiCaprio’s film One Battle After Another dominated the evening, winning six awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Paul Thomas Anderson. The film also won Best Cinematography and Best Editing, while Anderson paid tribute to his late first assistant director Adam Somner.
The Shakespearean weepie Hamnet claimed Best Actress for Jessie Buckley and Best British Film. Buckley joked about her early days in London, recalling a disastrous fake tan and her ambition to emulate Judi Dench. Sinners won Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for Wunmi Mosaku, while Sentimental Value was named Best Film Not in the English Language.
In a pointed closing monologue, Cumming celebrated diversity and inclusion, saying: “We have welcomed people from all over the world… for a celebration of stories and ideas and culture – in fact, a celebration of diversity and equality and inclusion. And guess what? Nobody died.”
