The Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden was the venue for the Orange British Academy Film Awards on 11 February, attracting stars from around the world. As they strolled along the traditional red carpet on a bright and sunny winter’s afternoon, stars such as Daniel Craig, Dame Judi Dench and Jake Gyllenhaal were met with enthusiastic cheers and applause from the huge crowd of film fans, some of whom had been waiting since early morning to see their favourite actors. The BAFTAs usually witness some fashion horrors, but elegance was the predominant theme this year, with eye-catching off-the-shoulder gowns chosen by Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslett among others, in spite of the chilly weather. [center][img]http://mysite.orange.co.uk/cagordon/images/1-picture4.jpg?[/img][/center] But the winner in the unofficial fashion stakes was undoubtedly Dame Helen Mirren with her stunning champagne and cream silk gown, which made her the most elegant star on the red carpet. [center][img]http://mysite.orange.co.uk/cagordon/images/1-picture3.jpg?[/img][/center]Later, she took the honours inside the Opera House too, when she added the best actress BAFTA to the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards she had already received for her performance in ‘The Queen’ – giving her yet another nod towards a possible Oscar win later in the year. ‘I read a lot about [the Queen] as a young girl and really, in a way, although I’m playing her at the age of 70… I play the young girl in her,’ she told the BBC before the event. Forest Whitaker took the Best Actor award for ‘Last King of Scotland’, with former star of US reality TV show ‘American Idol’, Jennifer Hudson, being recognised as Best Supporting Actress for her role in ‘Dreamgirls’. The complete list of nominees and winners can be found at: http://www.bafta.org/
Words and photographs © Carole Gordon 2007