SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

Features

Olivia Colman and ‘The Favourite’ rule at the BAFTAs

Olivia Colman has scooped yet another prize for her portrayal of Queen Anne in ‘The Favourite’. She was named Best Actress at this year’s BAFTAs, accepting her prize in front of an audience that included the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

There was a standing ovation for the star as she came on stage to pick up her award from Gary Oldman. The awards were held at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

‘The Favourite’, which tells the story of rivalries at the court of Queen Anne, scooped a total of seven awards at the ceremony including Outstanding British Film, Original Screenplay, Costume Design, Make Up and Hair and Production Design.

Rachel Weisz, who played Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, in the film was named Best Supporting Actress, pipping her co-star Emma Stone who was nominated for her portrayal of Abigail Masham in the movie.

Picking up her BAFTA, Rachel Weisz paid tribute to her co-stars, saying she had ”the greatest luck in that I played opposite two of the most glorious women” while Olivia Colman said in her acceptance speech that her fellow actresses in the film had been the ”best and classiest and coolest honour guard any woman could ever have” before adding ”as far as I’m concerned, all three of us are the same…..this is for all three of us”.

Other winners included Rami Malek who took Best Actor for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and Mahershala Ali who was named Best Supporting Actor for his part in ‘Green Book’. Best Film went to ‘Roma’ with Alfonso Cuaron picking up Best Director for his work on the movie. The Duke of Cambridge as President of BAFTA presented the Fellowship of the Academy, its most prestigious honour, to film editor Thelma Schoonmaker.

Olivia Colman has already won a Golden Globe, British Independent Film Award and a Critics’ Choice Award for her portrayal of Queen Anne as well as scooping the award for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival. She has also been nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of the last Stuart monarch in the film with that award handed out in Hollywood on February 24th 2019.

Following the BAFTA ceremony, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took to the stage to congratulate the winners.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.