One Battle After Another cemented its status as the Oscar frontrunner after picking up six gongs, including best film at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards.
But it was the exciting upset in the best lead actor category that electrified the room.
British actor Robert Aramayo beat out heavy hitters including Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ethan Hawke in claiming the win for his performance in I Swear, a Scottish biopic about a man with severe Tourette’s syndrome. The film will be released in Australia in late March.
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Aramayo, probably best known to audiences outside the UK for playing the young version of Ned Stark in Game of Thrones and elf Elrond in The Rings of Power, was more shocked than anyone else.
Grasping for breath as he started his speech, Aramayo said, “I absolutely can’t believe this, I can’t believe I’m looking at people like (DiCaprio) and I’m in the same category and never mind that I’m stood here”.
He also gave a special shoutout to Hawke. “When I was in school, Ethan Hawke came in to speak to us at Julliard and he gave an amazing talk about longevity as an actor, about protecting your instrument and avoiding self-destructive behaviours.
“It had a great impact on everyone in the room, so to be in this category with you tonight is incredible. Thank you, Ethan.”
The BAFTAs is sometimes accused of being too lock-step with the American awards so, to see Aramayo win in such a high-profile category over big names from across the Atlantic was a huge triumph. He also picked up an award for Rising Star, which is publicly voted.
There were also surprises in the best supporting acting races, with Sean Penn (One Battle After Another) picking up the victory in actor and Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners) in actress. Neither were the expected winners, but Mosaku is British, so may have had a home-field advantage over frontrunner Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another).
The BAFTAs and the Oscars have some cross-over in the voting bodies so the surprising winners here signal that the Oscars aren’t as presumptive for Taylor and Stellan Skarsgard (Sentimental Value) as expected.
Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) won the best leading actress award, beating out Australian contender Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You).
One Battle After Another also won for best director and best adapted screenplay for Paul Thomas Anderson, best editing and best cinematography.
In accepting best film, Anderson said, “This is a tremendous honour. I’m well aware of the other films that share this gift of an award and anybody who says movies aren’t good anymore, you can piss right off because this is a great f—king year.
“I know there’s a bar somewhere and I think we should all go there because it’s been a long evening but we have so much to celebrate, we have a line from Nina Simone that we stole in our film. She says, ‘I know what freedom is and it’s no fear’, so let’s keeping making things without fear if it’s a good idea. See you at the bar.”
Sinners picked up three awards in total and in addition to Mosaku, it also won for best original screenplay for Ryan Coogler and best original score for Ludwig Goransson.
Paul Thomas Anderson hugs Leonardo DiCaprio as he accepts the BAFTA Director Award for ‘One Battle After Another’. Credit: Tristan Fewings/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, the singing voices behind Huntr/x, the fictional band in KPop Demon Hunters, did their first live performance outside of the US number with a rousing rendition of Golden. It was a way to still include KPop Demon Hunters in the ceremony because the film was ineligible to be nominated as it did not meet cinema release requirements in the UK.
As the president of BAFTA, Prince William attended the ceremony with his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, but no mention was made of his uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
However, a comment Prince William made that he had not seen Hamnet because he needed to be “in quite a calm state and I am not at the moment” has been read as a reference to the turbulent time for the royal family.
Best Film
HamnetMarty SupremeOne Battle After Another – WINNERSentimental ValueSinners
Outstanding British Film
28 Years LaterThe Ballad of Wallis IslandBridget Jones: Mad About the BoyDie My LoveH is for HawkHamnet – WINNERI SwearMr BurtonPillionSteve
Best Leading Actress
Jessie Buckley, Hamnet – WINNER
Jessie Buckley attends the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026. Credit: Dominic Lipinski/Getty ImagesRose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick YouKate Hudson, Song Sung BlueChase Infiniti, One Battle After AnotherRenate Reinsve, Sentimental ValueEmma Stone, Bugonia
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Rose Byrne attends the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Images) Credit: Dave Benett/Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Im
Best Leading Actor
Robert Aramayo, I Swear – WINNERTimothee Chalamet, Marty Supreme
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner attend the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026. Credit: Carlo Paloni/BAFTA via Getty ImagesLeonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
Leonardo DiCaprio attends the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards at The Royal Festival Hall. Credit: Dominic Lipinski/Getty ImagesEthan Hawke, Blue MoonMichael B. Jordan, Sinners
Michael B. Jordan attends the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall. Credit: Joe Maher/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
Best Supporting Actress
Odessa A’zion, Marty SupremeInga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
Odessa A’zion attends the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards. Credit: Dave Benett/Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty ImWunmi Mosaku, Sinners – WINNERCarey Mulligan, The Ballad of Wallis IslandTeyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
Teyana Taylor attends the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards. Credit: Joe Maher/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
Best Supporting Actor
Benicio del Toro, One Battle After AnotherJacob Elordi, FrankensteinPaul Mescal, HamnetPeter Mullan, I Swear
Gracie Abrams and Paul Mescal. Credit: Gareth Cattermole/BAFTA/Gareth Cattermole/BAFTA/Getty ImSean Penn, One Battle After Another – WINNERStellan Skarsgard, Sentimental Value
Best Director
Yorgos Lanthimos, BugoniaChloe Zhao, HamnetJosh Safdie, Marty SupremePaul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another – WINNERJoachim Trier, Sentimental ValueRyan Coogler, Sinners
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
The CeremonyMy Father’s Shadow – WINNERPillionA Want in HerWasteman
Best Film not in the English Language
It Was Just An AccidentThe Secret AgentSentimental Value – WINNERSiratThe Voice of Hind Rajab
Best Documentary
2000 Metres to AndriivkaApocalypse in the TropicsCover-UpMr Nobody Against Putin – WINNERThe Perfect Neighbour
Best Animated Film
ElioLittle AmelieZootropolis 2 – WINNER
Best Children’s and Family Film
AecoBoong – WINNERLilo & StitchZootropolis 2
Best Original Screenplay
I SwearMarty SupremeThe Secret AgentSentimental ValueSinners – WINNER
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Ballad of Wallis IslandBugoniaHamnetOne Battle After Another – WINNERPillion
Best Casting
I Swear – WINNERMarty SupremeOne Battle After AnotherSentimental ValueSinners
Best Cinematography
FrankensteinMarty SupremeOne Battle After Another – WINNERSinnersTrain Dreams
Best Editing
F1A House of DynamiteMarty SupremeOne Battle After Another – WINNERSinners
Best Costume Design
Frankenstein – WINNERHamnetMarty SupremeSinnersWicked: For Good
Best Hair and Makeup
Frankenstein – WINNERHamnetMarty SupremeSinnersWicked: For Good
Best Original Score
BugoniaFrankensteinHamnetOne Battle After AnotherSinners – WINNER
Best Production Design
Frankenstein – WINNERHamnetMarty SupremeOne Battle After AnotherSinners
Best Sound
F1 – WINNERFrankensteinOne Battle After AnotherSinnersWarfare
Best Special Visual Effects
Avatar: Fire and Ash – WINNERF1FrankensteinHow to Train Your DragonThe Lost Bus
Best British Short Animation
CardboardSolsticeTwo Black Boys in Paradise
Best British Short Film
Magid/ZafarNostalgieTerenceThis Is Endometriosis – WINNERWelcome Home Freckles
Rising Star Award (Public voted)
Robert Aramayo – WINNERMiles CatonChase InfinitiArchie MadekwePosy Sterling