Maura Higgins, the 35-year-old Love Island star currently appearing on The Traitors US, made a striking arrival at the EE BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday afternoon. The reality television personality, who has recently been making waves in Hollywood, mingled with A-list celebrities at the prestigious ceremony held at The Royal Festival Hall in London.
Glamorous Red Carpet Appearance
Maura turned heads in a stunning red form-fitting satin dress that featured structured detailing across the chest and a dramatic train that flowed behind her on the carpet. The statement gown was accentuated with delicate black beading and paired with black sheer opera gloves and minimal jewellery. She completed her look with brunette locks slicked back into a tight bun and a glamorous coat of makeup that enhanced her features.
Acting Debut in 'The Spin'
While Maura has yet to receive any award nominations, she has just made her acting debut in the Irish comedy film 'The Spin'. In the feel-good road movie, she plays Rose, the onscreen girlfriend of character Dermot, portrayed by Brenock O'Connor. Despite having less than two minutes of screen time in the 1 hour 32 minute film, Maura reportedly impressed Hollywood executives with her performance.
Brief But Memorable Role
In her limited appearance, Maura delivers a few lines including "Ah there you are, did you play already?" and later shouts "play Coldplay" when Brenock performs in their local bar. After an hour of the movie passes, she returns to the screen to deliver just one more line. The film follows Dermot and Elvis, two music lovers who run a struggling record shop in Omagh, Northern Ireland, as they embark on a frantic two-day road trip across Ireland to save their business.
Industry Attention
Despite her blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo, sources indicate that Maura caught the attention of industry insiders who were eager to learn about her future movie plans. According to reports, "Everyone was talking about Maura and how great she was. She can act and people were impressed. There were a lot of important people from the film in that room and conversations were taking place about what she does next."
BAFTA Awards Ceremony Details
The 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, hosted by Alan Cumming, welcomed numerous stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Jacob Elordi, and Michael B. Jordan. The event featured a DJ set by Magic FM presenter Neev Spencer, with Clara Amfo and Ali Plumb reporting live from outside the venue. Celebrity presenters included Aimee Lou Wood, Alicia Vikander, Cillian Murphy, Ethan Hawke, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Sadie Sink, and British grime artist Stormzy.
Special Performances and Awards
Entertainment for the evening included a first performance outside the United States of the record-breaking track "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters, sung by JAE, AUDREYNUNA & REI AMI. British singer Jessie Ware performed a Barbara Streisand cover during the In Memoriam tribute. Special award recipients included Dame Donna Langley, who received the BAFTA Fellowship, and Clare Binns, Creative Director of Picture House Cinemas, who was presented with the BAFTA Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award.
Notable Nominations
Paul Thomas Anderson's film "One Battle After Another" earned fourteen nominations, the most of any film this year. It faced competition from supernatural horror "Sinners" with thirteen nominations and "Hamnet," director Chloé Zhao's drama about the death of Shakespeare's only son, with eleven nominations. "Hamnet" broke the record for the most nominations for a female-directed film in BAFTA history.
Other Contenders
Irish star Jessie Buckley received a nomination for her lead role in "Hamnet," while co-star Paul Mescal earned a Supporting Actor nod. "Marty Supreme" and Timothée Chalamet received eleven BAFTA nominations, including Best Film and Best Actor. First-time BAFTA Film nominees included Robert Aramayo, Odessa A'zion, Rose Byrne, Chase Infiniti, Michael B. Jordan, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgård, and Teyana Taylor.
The ceremony was broadcast at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK, and on E! in North America at 8:00pm Eastern Time, with additional international broadcasters carrying the event.
