UNITED KINGDOM: CATE BLANCHETT WINS BEST ACTRESS AWARD AT THE 51ST BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM CEREMONY

Record ID: 388238

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: CATE BLANCHETT WINS BEST ACTRESS AWARD AT THE 51ST BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM CEREMONY
  • Date: 18th April 1999
  • Summary: BUSINESS DESIGN CENTRE, ISLINGTON, LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (APRIL 11, 1999) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF LOCATION OF THE BAFTA CEREMONY AT THE BUSINESS DESIGN CENTRE, ISLINGTON, AND VARIOUS OF CROWD/ BAFTA BANNERS LYNN REDGRAVE ARRIVING (SOUNDBITE) (English) LYN REDGRAVE, NOMINATED FOR SUPPORTING ROLE IN GODS AND MONSTERS SAYING 'I mean the good thing is thi
  • Embargoed: 3rd May 1999 13:00
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  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA3B76DD6DIIHBI18G7JVBA6IQS
  • Story Text: Cate Blanchett stole the glory from Gwyneth Paltrow at the 51st BAFTA ceremony, as she scooped the British Academy Award for Leading Actress in recognition of her role in 'Elizabeth'.Roberto Benigni continued to delight the audience as he won once again the honour of Best Leading Actor in his film 'Life Is Beautiful'.But the Oscar-laden 'Shakespeare In Love' was not to be ignored - it won the award for Best Film.
    The stars were flocking in from all over the world on Sunday evening as the 51st British Academy Award ceremony kicked off at a massive arena in the centre of London.
    All eyes were on Cate Blanchett as she scooped the much coveted role of Best Leading Actress away from Gwyneth Paltrow, for her role of Queen Elizabeth.
    Blanchett was delighted, and clear on why the historical tale of this British monarch still had such strong resonance with today's audience: 'When we look back on that age, you know when we study it in school, we can, it's a very textbook - quite dry way of looking at history, when in fact they lived and breathed, they had sex, they felt anger, rage, envy, and incredibly violent thoughts.And they also had this incredible poetic sensibility - I think it's when language in a lot of ways in England was at its great height.' The English language proved a beautiful form in Roberto Benigni's hands.The Italian star behind the controversial holocaust tragi-comedy received the BAFTA for Best Leading Actor.It follows his recent Oscar award and is an amazing feat considering 'foreign' films nomally have a hard time getting a look-in in the top line-up.
    As with his acceptance speech for the Oscar, Benigni gave the best performance of the night, describing the way he was feeling as a' watermelon, exploding with joy', and thanking his leading lady in the film - his wife - 'for making me fly'.
    Honours for Shakespeare In Love were again flying high at the British Academy Awards - but not on a level with the Oscar recognition.
    James Bond - Pierce Brosnan - presented the award for Best Film to the team behind the enormously successful romantic comedy.Director John Madden made a joke that he would like to thank Gwyneth's family, singularly and severally...but time doesn't permit' following Paltrow's emotional outpouring when accepting her Oscar.Madden paid particular tribute to the film's leading man Joseph Fiennes, who he pointedly described as 'the unsung hero' in this awards business.Although nominated by the British panel of acclaimed filmmakers, Fiennes wasn't even put forward by the Oscar panel.
    Fiennes wasn't the only unsung hero in the night.The British success story 'Little Voice' tonight proved rather unsuccessful as it failed to pick up even one award.For the second time round, Dame Judi Dench was given the award of Best Supporting Actress over 'Little Voice's Brenda Blethyn.And although the majority of the British audience were rooting for Cockney legend, Michael Caine, the only contact he had with a BAFTA was to present one to his friend, Elizabeth Taylor.
    Taylor received the prestigious British Academy Fellowship in honour of her outstanding contribution to the film industry.
    The veteran actress - renowned for her performances in 'Cleopatra' and 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf' among many more - said she was delighted to be back home for the first time in seven years.Amazingly, Taylor said that she does not even consider herself as an actress.
    The talented woman now dedicates all of her energy to raising funds and awareness for Aids.
    Other awards went to Peter Weir for Best Direction in The Truman Show, Best Visual Effects was awarded to Saving Private Ryan, Best Supporting Actor to Shakespeare In Love's Geoffrey Rush, and Best Original Screenplay to Andrew Niccol of The Truman Show.
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