The UK claims 14 Bafta awards, the highest number since 2021, despite a shutout in acting

The UK enjoyed one of its strongest performances at the Bafta Film Awards in recent years, thanks to several key wins behind the camera, although it missed out on victories in the major acting categories. A total of 14 Bafta awards were claimed by British talent, the highest since 2021.

The dark fantasy comedy Poor Things was a major success for UK talent, winning five awards in total. Four of these were attributed to British professionals, including veteran make-up artist Mark Coulier, who won best make-up and hair along with Nadia Stacey and Josh Weston. This marked Coulier’s second consecutive Bafta win, following his success for Elvis in 2023.

Poor Things also saw UK success in visual effects, with Simon Hughes receiving the award, while Shona Heath and James Price were recognised for best production design. Holly Waddington won best costume design for the same film.

Christopher Nolan, a British-born director, earned his first Bafta win for Oppenheimer, claiming the best director award. The film, a co-production between the UK and US, also triumphed as best film.

In other international success, the Polish historical drama The Zone of Interest earned three awards, including best film not in the English language (the first time a UK production had won this category since 2004), best British film, and best sound, for British audio designers Johnnie Burn and Tarn Willers.

However, the “big four” acting awards went to non-British talent. Emma Stone won best actress for Poor Things, Robert Downey Jr. took best supporting actor for Oppenheimer, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph won best supporting actress for The Holdovers. Cillian Murphy became the first Irish actor to win best actor for Oppenheimer. This marks the second consecutive year that no British talent won in these major categories, a rare outcome in Bafta history.

The UK had some bright spots, with Mia McKenna-Bruce winning the Rising Star Award, voted for by the public, for her role in How To Have Sex. Other UK triumphs included Jellyfish & Lobster, which won best British short film, and Crab Day, which took home the award for best British short animation. Savanah Leaf’s Earth Mama was recognised for outstanding debut by a British writer, director, or producer, and June Givanni won the prestigious Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award.

With 14 wins, the UK’s Bafta performance was a strong one, showing significant progress from the previous year’s nine wins. The highest number of UK wins in recent years was 15 in 2009, when Slumdog Millionaire dominated the ceremony.