Emilia Jones Stuns at Star-Studded Pre-BAFTA Vanity Fair Celebration
Emilia Jones, the talented 23-year-old actress and daughter of singer Aled Jones, captivated onlookers as she arrived at the exclusive pre-BAFTA Vanity Fair party held at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel in London on Thursday evening. She looked absolutely incredible in a sleek silver mini dress, a one-shoulder ensemble that showcased her very leggy display with undeniable style and grace.
As she made her entrance to the star-studded bash, Emilia confidently struck a pose, perfectly complementing her chic look with a pair of elegant heels. Her appearance added a touch of glamour to the high-profile gathering, which served as a precursor to the much-anticipated 2026 EE BAFTA Awards ceremony.
Damian Lewis and Other Notable Guests Grace the Event
Elsewhere at the vibrant party, award-winning actor Damian Lewis cut a dapper figure, making an animated and memorable entrance that drew attention. He was joined by a host of other celebrities, including actress Jessica Henwick and Alex Fine, the husband of American singer Cassie, contributing to the evening's lively and sophisticated atmosphere.
2026 EE BAFTA Awards: Nominations and Key Contenders
The 2026 EE BAFTAs are set to return this Sunday, taking place at London's prestigious Southbank Centre in the Royal Festival Hall. The nominations, announced last month by 2025 Rising Star nominee David Jonsson and Aimee Lou Wood, have generated significant buzz across the film industry.
Leading the pack is One Battle After Another, which earned the most nods with an impressive 14 nominations, including one for its lead star, the renowned Leonardo DiCaprio. Following closely is Sinners, securing second place with 13 nominations, after recently breaking the record for the most Oscar nods of all time.
Record-Breaking Achievements and Competitive Categories
Marty Supreme and Hamnet both scored eleven nominations each, ahead of Frankenstein and Sentimental Value, which each earned eight. I Swear and Bugonia both received five nominations, while The Ballad of Wallis Island, Pillion, and F1 each scored three nods.
Notably, Hamnet, Chloe Zhao's adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's award-winning novel about the family life of William Shakespeare, has broken the record for the most nominations for a female-directed film in BAFTA history, marking a significant milestone for diversity and representation in cinema.
Best Film and Acting Categories Heat Up
The Best Film category will see Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sentinental Value, and Sinners face off to score the biggest prize of the night. In the Leading Actress field, Irish star Jessie Buckley is adding to her awards season roster with a nod for her role in Hamnet, having already won the Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award. She is also the frontrunner to win both the Oscar and SAG Award next month.
She faces stiff competition from Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You; Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue; Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another; Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value; and Emma Stone for Bugonia.
Supporting Roles and British Hopes
While Jessie's Hamnet co-star Paul Mescal was snubbed at the Oscar nominations, he has earned a Supporting Actor BAFTA nod, competing against Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn for One Battle After Another; Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein; Peter Mullan for I Swear; and Stellan Skarsgard for Sentimental Value.
Leonardo DiCaprio could earn his second ever BAFTA after scoring his seventh nomination for One Battle After Another, but will need to beat out his 2026 awards season foe Timothee Chalamet for Marty Supreme. The impressively-stacked category is rounded out by Robert Aramayo for I Swear, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, and Jesse Plemons for Bugonia.
There are hopes for a British win in the Supporting Actress field as Nigerian-British Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku competes alongside Carey Mulligan for The Ballad Of Wallis Island and Emily Watson for Hamnet.
Full List of BAFTA Nominations Highlights
The 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards feature a comprehensive array of categories, celebrating excellence across various aspects of filmmaking. Below is a summary of key nominations:
- Best Film: Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sentimental Value, Sinners
- Outstanding British Film: Includes 28 Years Later, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, and Hamnet
- Leading Actress: Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Chase Infiniti, Renate Reinsve, Emma Stone
- Leading Actor: Robert Aramayo, Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Jesse Plemons
- Supporting Actress: Odessa A'Zion, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Wunmi Mosaku, Carey Mulligan, Teyana Taylor, Emily Watson
- Supporting Actor: Benicio Del Toro, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, Peter Mullan, Sean Penn, Stellan Skarsgard
As the film community eagerly awaits the ceremony, the pre-BAFTA parties like the Vanity Fair event have set the stage for a weekend of celebration, recognition, and intense competition among the year's most acclaimed cinematic works.
