“Oppenheimer” swept the 77th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) on Sunday night, winning awards for director Christopher Nolan and actor Cillian Murphy as well as taking home the prize for best film.
Overall, the movie took home seven golden BAFTA masks, with “Poor Things” coming in second place with five wins.
BAFTA chair Sarah Putt opened the ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday night by welcoming the star-studded audience, which included Prince William, who arrived solo as his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, continues to recuperate at home following an operation. William, who is president of BAFTA, did not give a speech, no doubt in part because of renewed interest in his personal life following his father King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis last month.

US actress Emma Stone (L) celebrates with British actor Idriss Elba (R) as she poses with the award for Best leading actress for her role in “Poor Things”.AFP PHOTO

In her speech, Putt said she was sending Catherine and the King “our very best wishes” before handing over to the night’s host, “Doctor Who” star David Tennant.
Tennant opened the show with a pre-recorded sketch inspired by his lockdown series “Staged,” which featured co-star Michael Sheen  — as well as Sheen’s dog Bark Ruffalo — plus a host of famous faces including Tom Hiddleston and Judi Dench. Tennant then took to the stage clad in a kilt with Bark Ruffalo in tow.
“Tonight’s going to go smoother than Ken’s chest,” he quipped, referencing the plastic doll played by a hairless torsoe’d Ryan Gosling in “Barbie.”
Presenters during the evening included David Beckham, who handed out the golden mask for outstanding British debut, and Dua Lipa, who was there to present the award for outstanding British film.
Meanwhile, Sophie Ellis-Bextor sang her “Saltburn” hit “Murder on the Dancefloor.” Though star Barry Keoghan did not join her on stage to reenact the infamous scene at the end of the movie, he did blow Ellis-Bextor a kiss from the audience.
Some of the most moving moments of the night came when “Ted Lasso” star Hannah Waddingham performed a specially-arranged cover of “Time After Time” during the In Memoriam segment, which honored stars including Tina Turner and Michael Gambon, and Michael J Fox arrived on stage at the climax of the ceremony to present the best film award, which went to “Oppenheimer.” Fox, who arrived on the stage in a wheelchair before standing up to present the award, was greeted with extended applause and a standing ovation.