Kate dons a black ribbon in gesture to Baftas protest
STARS made it a night to remember at the Baftas as they wore black in protest at sexual harassment in the industry.
And the Duchess of Cambridge tipped a subtle nod in support.
Kate, who is due to give birth to her third child in April, wore a black sash beneath the top of her billowing low-cut dark green Jenny Packham dress.
In recognition of the Me Too and Time’s Up protest movement, she teamed that with an emerald necklace and matching earrings.
The 36-year-old arrived on the red carpet with Prince William, who is president of Bafta, but had risked a backlash by failing to wear a full black dress.
She was faced with walking a political tightrope due to royal protocol which restricts family members to remaining politically neutral.
They usually only wear black at Remembrance events and funerals.
Actresses Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Watson, Julie Walters, Kristin Scott Thomas, Karen Gillan and Lupita Nyong’o were among the vast majority of stars who wore black at London’s Royal Albert Hall last night.
Gary Oldman was celebrating even before the Baftas after becoming a grandfather to a baby boy named after his latest portrayal – Sir Winston Churchill – which he won the best actor award for.
He revealed on the red carpet that he now has a grandson called Ozzie Winston.
Accepting his award, Oldman thanked Sir Winston who, he said, “held the line for honour, for integrity and freedom, for his nation”.
Host Joanna Lumley, who also wore black, marked her debut hosting the ceremony by praising the “dogged determination” of the Suffragettes who won the vote 100 years ago as well as those supporting the Time’s Up movement today.
Gemma Arterton, Andrea Riseborough and Naomie Harris were among the actresses who were accompanied by “advocates” as part of the Time’s Up initiative.
Arterton, 32, walked the red carpet with Eileen Pullen and Gwen Davis, two of the 187 “Dagenham Girls” who walked out of the Ford Motor Company’s London plant in June 1968 in a gender pay row.
The big success of the night was Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
It was named as best film and outstanding British film. It was part funded by Film 4 and has a British director Martin McDonagh. Sam Rockwell won best supporting actor for his role in the movie. And Frances McDormand won best actress.
It also won best original screenplay.