Baftas has one major Favourite...

THE Favourite proved to be a prophetic name when the Bafta nominations were revealed yesterday.

The historical drama-comedy film – with strong Irish links – landed 12 nominations, putting it way out ahead of the pack.

The movie was co-produced by Dublin’s Element Pictures, and company directors Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe were delighted with the news.

‘We were kind of optimistic,’ Mr Guiney told Miriam O’Callaghan on RTÉ Radio 1 yesterday, before gushing that the movie’s dozen nods ‘exceeded our dreams’.

The Favourite, which is currently in Irish cinemas, is set in Britain in the early 18th century and follows the eccentric Queen Anne, played by Olivia Colman.

The 44-year-old British star has been nominated for Best Actress at the Baftas, and her co-stars Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz are both up for Best Supporting Actress.

Yorgos Lanthimos is nominated as Best Director, and the movie is also up for Best Film, and Outstanding British Film. Sandymount local Robbie Ryan is nominated in the Cinematography category for his work on the film, and Original Screenplay, Editing, Make-Up and Hair, Production Design and Costume Design make up the rest of its nods.

Other Irish talents getting the nod include Jessie Buckley and Barry Keoghan, both nominated for the Rising Star award at the Baftas.

The British Academy Film Awards will take place on February 10, and the ceremony, hosted by Joanna Lumley, will air on BBC One.