BAFTAs 2023: Host Richard E. Grant references Will Smith Oscars lap
BAFTAs 2023: ‘Nobody on my watch gets slapped tonight!’ Host Richard E. Grant references Will Smith’s shocking Oscars moment in opening speech joke as he dons dramatic white cape
Richard E. Grant made a joke about Will Smith’s Oscars slap while wearing a dramatic white cape during his opening speech at the 76th EE British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday.
The actor, 65, referenced the notorious 2022 Academy Awards moment when movie star Will, 54, slapped presenter Chris Rock across the face after he jested about Will’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
Richard told the star-studded crowd: ‘Nobody on my watch gets slapped tonight – except on the back.’
The star, who is hosting the ceremony alongside This Morning’s Alison Hammond, 48, wore a dramatic floor-length white cape over his smart dinner suit.
Screen star Richard’s cloak swept out across the floor behind him as he stepped out to cheers and applause from the audience.
Grand entrance: Host Richard E. Grant, 65, made a joke about Will Smith’s Oscars slap while wearing a dramatic white cape at the BAFTA Film Awards at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday
The garb gathered as it sat wrapped around his body, with the item featuring an oversized collar to frame is face.
Beneath the garment, he wore a white dinner jacket which he teamed with a matching shirt and a pair of black trousers.
He was then joined on stage by his co-host, television presenter Alison, who appeared excited as she stood by the star.
Richard’s joke comes after he previously said BAFTA organisers knew he was not going to ‘roast’ fellow actors.
Last year, Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids actress Rebel Wilson made risque jokes about the royal family, Vladimir Putin, the gender pay gap, her flop film Cats and her recent weight loss.
Richard added: ‘So I was surprised…and I thought because I was so unashamedly enthusiastic during the awards circuit four years ago, when I was nominated for (a BAFTA).
‘(BAFTA organisers) must know that I’m going to be a celebratory person rather than somebody who’s there to roast other actors so hopefully, that’s (going to) work out, I don’t know yet.’
Richard and Alison were announced as the hosts of the event last month, with Richard hosting the main ceremony and Alison presenting Bafta Studio, an immersive and access-all-areas experience for the BBC One broadcast.
Eye-catching: Screen star Richard’s cloak swept out across the floor behind him as he stepped out to cheers and applause from the audience
Slap aftermath: Will Smith is continuing his press tour for his new movie Emancipation, giving his first talk show interview since his now-infamous Oscar slap of Chris Rock
Richard said: ‘I feel hugely privileged to be hosting the EE Baftas for the first time and the opportunity to celebrate the very best of the extraordinary range of this year’s films.’
Alison said: ”I’m so excited to be hosting at this year’s EE Bafta Film Awards with THE Richard E Grant.
‘We’re going to have a lot of fun bringing the glitz and glam of backstage to everyone watching at home around the world.
‘From hanging out with the stars to celebrating the biggest night for cinema, and joining the discussions with film fans, get ready for good vibes only.’
Meanwhile film critic Ali Plum was on the red carpet with Vick Hope.
Netflix’s anti-war drama All Quiet On The Western Front leads the nominations with a staggering 14 nods.
Unique: The garb gathered as it sat wrapped around his body, with the item featuring an oversized collar to frame is face
The film, which is based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque, equals Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2001) as the film which is not spoken in the English language with the most nominations in BAFTA’s history.
Directed by Edward Berger, it stars Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Daniel Brühl, Sebastian Hülk, Aaron Hilmer, Edin Hasanovic and Devid Striesow.
Nominations include Best Support Actor, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design, Editing, Make Up & Hair, Original Score, Production Design and more.
It will face battle against The Banshees of Inisherin and Everything Everywhere All At Once for Best Film, with both movies up for 10 nominations a piece.
Born to perform: The star-studded audience looked entertained as Richard made his way through the concert hall and onto the stage
Good spirits: He was seen smiling as he made his way to the stage while he was met with rapturous applaud
Looking dapper: Beneath the garment, he wore a white dinner jacket which he teamed with a matching shirt and a pair of black trousers
Elvis, which has nine nominations, and Tar, five nods, will also compete for Best Film.
The Banshees of Inisherin follows two lifelong friends (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) who, ‘find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them’.
Colin Farrell is up for Best Actor for his part in the film, but will face tough competition as he faces Austin Butler (Elvis), Brendan Fraser (The Whale), Daryl McCormack (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande), Paul Mescal (Aftersun) and Bill Nighy (Living).
In the Leading Actress category, Ana de Armas scored her first nomination for her portrayal as Marilyn Monroe in Netflix’s Blonde.
Famous friends: Richard was then joined on stage by his co-host, television presenter Alison, who appeared excited as she stood by the star
All stars: The pair were announced as the hosts of the event last month, with Richard hosting the main ceremony and Alison presenting Bafta Studio
She will compete against Cate Blanchett (Tar), Viola Davis (The Woman King), Danielle Deadwyler (Till), Emma Thompson (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande) and Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once).
In the Best Director category, four of the six are first time director nominees: Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King); Todd Field (Tár), Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Everything Everywhere All At Once) and Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front).
There were four nominations for Aftersun, The Batman, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Top Gun: Maverick and The Whale.
Babylon scored three nominations. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, and Li Jun Li.
Strike a pose: Dame Emma Thompson (left) and Jamie Lee Curtis (right) looked glamorous as they posed inside before the ceremony
Chatterbox: Jamie was seen chatting to fellow actress Cate Blanchett before the ceremony started
Chic sense of style: Cate looked sensational in a floor-length black dress for the star-studded event
Looking good: Rami Malek looked dapper in a black dinner suit which he teamed with a matching tie and a white shirt
The plot chronicles the rise and fall of multiple characters during Hollywood’s transition from silent to sound films in the late 1920s.
Empire of Light; Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio; Living and Triangle of Sadness also got a trio of nods in the shortlist.
The following British shorts were nominated: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse; Middle Watch; Your Mountain Is Waiting; The Ballad of Olive Morris; Bazigaga; Bus Girl; A Drifting Up and An Irish Goodbye.
James Cameron’s sequel Avatar: The Way Of Water failed to score big in the nominations list but got nods in the Sound and Special Visual Effects Categories.
BAFTA FILM AWARDS 2023: THE NOMINATIONS
BEST FILM
Acclaim: Netflix anti-war epic All Quiet On The Western Front
All Quiet On The Western Front
The Banshees of Inisherin
Elvis
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Tar
BEST ACTRESS
First nomination: Ana de Armas is up for Leading Actress
Cate Blanchett (Tar)
Viola Davis (The Woman King)
Danielle Deadwyler (Till)
Ana de Armas (Blonde)
Emma Thompson (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande)
Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once
BEST ACTOR
In the running: Austin Butler is up for Best Actor for his portrayal of Elvis
Austin Butler (Elvis)
Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin)
Brendan Fraser (The Whale)
Daryl McCormack (Good Luck To You, Leo Grande)
Paul Mescal (Aftersun)
Bill Nighy (Living)
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
Aftersun
The Banshees
Brian and Charles
Empire of Light
Good Luck to You Leo Grande
Living
Roald Dahl’s Matilda
See How They Run
The Swimmers
The Wonder
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
Aftersun (Charlotte Wells)
Blue Jean (Georgia Oakley, Helene Sifre)
Electric Malady (Marie Liden)
Good Luck To You, Leo Grande (Katy Brand)
Rebellion (Maia Kenworthy)
FILM NOT IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE
All Quiet On The Western Front
Argentina, 1985
Corsage
Decision To Leave
The Quiet Girl
DOCUMENTARY
All The Breathes
All The Beauty And The Bloodshed
Fire Of Love
Moonage Daydream
Navalny
ANIMATED FILM
Pinocchio
Marcel The Shell With Shoes On
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish
Turning Red
DIRECTOR
Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Qua in Everything Everywhere All At Once
All Quiet On The Western Front, Edward Berger
The Banshees of Inisherin Martin McDonagh
Decision To Leave, Park Chan-wook
Everything Everywhere All At Once, Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Tar, Todd Field
The Woman King, Gina Prince-Bythewood
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Banshees of Inisherin
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The Fabelmans
Tar
Triangle of Sadness
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
All Quiet On The Western Front – WINNER
Living
The Quiet Girl
She Said
The Whale
SOUND
All Quiet On The Western Front
Avatar: The Way Of Water
Elvis
Tar
Top Gun: Maverick
BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse
Middle Watch
Your Mountain Is Waiting
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Angela Bassett (Wakanda Forever)
Hong Chau (The Whale)
Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin)
Dolly De Leon (Triangle of Sadness)
Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All At Once)
Carey Mulligan (She Said)
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Shortlisted: Eddie Redmayne is up for Supporting Actor in The Good Nurse
Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees Of Inisherin)
Barry Keoghan (The Banshees Of Inisherin)
Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All At Once)
Eddie Redmayne (The Good Nurse)
Albrecht Schuch (All Quiet On The Western Front)
Micheal Ward (Empire Of Light)
CASTING
Triangle of Sadness got a nod in the Casting category
Aftersun
All Quiet On The Western Front
Elvis
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Triangle Of Sadness
CINEMATOGRAPHY
All Quiet On The Western Front
The Batman
Elvis
Empire Of Light
Top Gun: Maverick
COSTUME DESIGN
Costume Design: Margot Robbie in Babylon
All Quiet On The Western Front
Amsterdam
Babylon
Elvis
Mrs Harris Goes To Paris
EDITING
Sequel: Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick
All Quiet On The Western Front
The Banshees Of Inisherin
Elvis
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Top Gun: Maverick
MAKE UP & HAIR
All Quiet On The Western Front
The Batman
Elvis
Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
The Whale
ORIGINAL SCORE
All Quiet On The Western Front
Babylon
The Banshees of Inisherin
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Pinocchio
PRODUCTION DESIGN
All Quiet On The Western Front
Babylon
The Batman
Elvis
Pinocchio
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
Avatar: The Way Of Water is up for Special Visual Effects
All Quiet On The Western Front
Avatar: The Way Of Water
The Batman
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Top Gun: Maverick
BRITISH SHORT FILM
The Ballad Of Olive Morris
Bazigaga
Bus Girl
A Drifting Up
An Irish Goodbye
EE RISING STAR
Happy: Nominees Sheila, Naomi and Daryl
Emma Mackey (Sex Education)
Naomie Ackie (Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody)
Sheila Atim (The Woman King)
Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education)
Daryl McCormack (Good Luck To You)
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