Hugh Grant stole the show at the 74th annual British Academy Film Awards on Sunday as he presented the BAFTA Fellowship to acclaimed filmmaker Ang Lee.
The actor, 60, delivered his speech with typical deadpan humour, joking that Ang is so decorated with laurel garlands from various film festivals, he is ‘basically a hedge’.
Hugh, who is known for his witty lines at the BAFTAs, was once again on top form as he took to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall.
Witty: Hugh Grant stole the show at the BAFTAs virtual ceremony on Sunday as he presented the BAFTA Fellowship to acclaimed filmmaker Ang Lee
Hugh presented the organisation’s highest honour to the Taiwanese director, 66, who accepted it via video message.
The Notting Hill star kept a serious face as he spoke to the camera using his dry British humour to joke that the Oscar-winning director’s career has been ‘almost preposterously successful’.
Hugh continued: ‘If he were actually to wear all the laurel garlands he’s been awarded in Cannes and Venice and Berlin [film festivals] over the years, he would basically be a hedge.’
Funny: The actor, 60, delivered his speech with typical deadpan humour, joking that Ang (pictured) is so decorated with laurel garlands from film festivals, he is ‘basically a hedge’
Hilarious: The actor, 60, delivered his speech with typical deadpan humour, joking that Ang is so decorated with laurel garlands from various film festivals, he is ‘basically a hedge’
The actor also slipped in a sneaky piece of self-praise, calling Lee’s 1995 film Sense and Sensibility ‘exquisitely acted’ – which Hugh himself starred in alongside Emma Thompson.
Accepting the award, Ang also referenced his Jane Austen adaptation, saying: ‘England has been particularly good to me in my career… Sense And Sensibility, which was like a second film school for me – I could only communicate in short sentences.
‘The comments I gave the actors were very concise, direct and honest. The casuals competing to see who would get the most rude remark from me.
‘But my British colleagues were super-patient and kind to me. I owe so much to them because after Sense And Sensibility, I dared to venture into many other types of movies.’
Throwback: Hugh also slipped in a piece of self-praise, calling Lee’s 1995 film Sense and Sensibility ‘exquisitely acted’ – which he starred in with Emma Thompson (pictured)
Last year, Hugh quoted one of his best known lines from Bridget Jones’ Diary while presenting the Best Film award at the 73rd annual EE British Academy Film Awards.
After greeting Bridget Jones co-star Renee Zellweger, 51, at the side of the stage – who had just bagged the Leading Actress gong – he joked: ‘Well first of all, well done Jones.’
‘That was a very, very, silly little dress I thought,’ he continued, commenting on Renee’s candy pink Prada gown.
The line was famously used by Hugh in the 2001 movie, during a scene in which a drunken Daniel Cleaver seduces Bridget on her sofa.
One-liner: At last year’s BAFTAs, Hugh quoted one of his best known lines from Bridget Jones’ Diary while presenting the Best Film award during the ceremony
Gong: After greeting Bridget Jones co-star Renee Zellweger, 51, at the side of the stage he joked: ‘That was a very, very, silly little dress’, commenting on Renee’s candy pink Prada gown
Earlier on Sunday evening, Hugh cut a dapper figure alongside his glamorous wife Anna Eberstein as the pair arrived at the BAFTA 2021 Film Awards.
The actor looked smart in a black tuxedo, white shirt and black bow tie as he hit the socially-distanced red carpet, while Anna, 41, put on a leggy display in a glitzy black mini dress for the awards ceremony.
Hugh looked great in the dark suit jacket with shiny lapels and matching black trousers which he teamed with shiny black shoes.
Glamorous: Earlier on Sunday evening, Hugh cut a dapper figure alongside his glamorous wife Anna Eberstein as the pair arrived for the virtual ceremony
Dapper: The Notting Hill actor looked smart in a black tuxedo, white shirt and black bow tie as he hit the socially-distanced red carpet at the Royal Albert Hall in London
Anna wore her dress, which featured a high neckline and gold buttons on the shoulders, with strappy black high heels.
She accessorised perfectly for the glamorous evening with a black leather YSL bag and wore her dark tresses in a chic bun.
The BAFTA and EE British Academy Film Awards 2021 is the first of the Academy’s film ceremonies to be held virtually.
Glam: TV producer wife Anna, 41, put on a leggy display in a glitzy black mini dress which featured a high neckline and gold buttons on the shoulders, with strappy black high heels
Nomadland was the big winner, taking home four gongs on the night, including the coveted Best Film award.
The American drama – which stars Frances McDormand as a modern-day nomad travelling through America in her van after losing her livelihood in the Great Recession – also picked up Best Leading Actress for McDornand, Best Director for Chloe Zhao and Best Cinematography.
Elsewhere a shock win saw Anthony Hopkins win Leading Actor over the late Chadwick Boseman, while Daniel Kaluuya continued his clean sweep with a win for Best Supporting Actor.
In a shock result, Sir Anthony Hopkins was awarded the Leading Actor for his work in The Father, beating out Chadwick Boseman, who had received a slew of posthumous prizes for his work in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Wow: Hugh, 60, looked youthful as he beamed for the camera alongside his very glamorous wife
Together: Anna and Hugh’s outfits complimented each other perfectly as they stepped out together
Elsewhere Yuh-Jung Young was awarded Best Supporting Actress for her work in Minari, in which she played the grandmother character Soonja from Korea visiting relatives in Arkansas in the 1980s.
Emerald Fennell was left speechless after learning she’d been awarded Original Screenplay for her work penning Promising Young Woman.
It wasn’t the only victory for Emerald during the evening, as she also received the prize for Outstanding British Film for her work on Carey Mulligan-starring drama.
For the coveted EE Rising Star Award, Hackney-born actress Bukky Bakray, 19, sparked a thunderous reaction from her loved ones when she was voted to received the top award, which has been seen as a launch pad for many young talents in Hollywood.
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Animation, presented by Priyanka Chopra, was given to Disney Pixar’s Soul, which like many films saw its release moved to streaming due to the Covid pandemic.
All smiles: The pair both looked in great spirits as they attended the awards
Beaming: The actor looked pleased to be at the awards ceremony which is taking place in London
Best Adapted Screenplay, presented by Anna Kendrick, was presented to Florian Zeller for his work penning The Father, and following the victory, the French writer praised the land of Great Britain where he worked on the film.
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer was given to Remi Weekes for his work on the film His House, while Cinematography was given to Nomadland, and Editing to Sound of Metal.
The creators of the documentary film The Octopus Teacher were stunned when they were honoured for their work, screaming with delight as they joined all of this year’s nominees appearing via. Zoom.
Prince William, who is president of BAFTA, was due to feature on Saturday in a pre-recorded conversation with costume designer Jenny Beavan and make-up and hair designer Sharon Martin, but pulled out following the death of his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh.
On Sunday, he was to deliver a speech via video, celebrating the resilience of the film industry over the past year – but BAFTA has confirmed he will no longer be taking part in the ceremony.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who died yesterday at Windsor Castle at the age of 99, was BAFTA’s first president, serving from 1959 to 1965, and continued to support the organisation throughout his life.
Glamorous evening: The couple looked excited for their evening ahead as they headed into the Royal Albert Hall
