Well, Stanley, this is another fine shortlist you’ve gotten us onto Stan & Ollie director on big night at Baftas
Atartan-tinged movie about comedy legends Laurel and Hardy will be taking on big-gun opposition for a top award at the Baftas tonight.
Stan & Ollie – directed by Jon S Baird – is on the shortlist for Outstanding British Film at the starstudded ceremony at the Albert Hall in London.
But Jon said that, win or lose, he will be keeping his feet planted firmly on the ground. Jon, 46, who attended a pre-bafta nominee dinner at Kensington Palace last night, said: “This is a big deal for a boy like me from a typical northeast of Scotland background. “But, even if we did win, I won’t be getting carried away with myself. My old mates in Peterhead would crucify me if I tried something like that.”
Stan & Ollie features Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel and American star John C Reilly as Oliver Hardy. Jon said: “I will be sitting next to Steve on the night and I know he is as pleased as I am at being nominated for this work – it means a lot.”
The movie faces stiff competition from multinominated period drama The Favourite, starring Olivia Colman, and box office hit Bohemian Rhapsody at the awards hosted by Joanna Lumley.
Stan & Ollie charts the word-famous duo’s final tour of the UK and Ireland in 1953, including a performance at Glasgow’s Empire Theatre where they wore kilts for one sketch. Stan Laurel was born in England but as a boy he moved to Glasgow, where his father ran music halls and he cut his teeth in comedy. Funnyman Coogan is also nominated in the Best Leading Actor category for his role in the movie, hailed by critics as a moving depiction of the legendary comedy duo and their enduring relationship.
He will be up against Bradley Cooper for A Star is Born and Rami Malek who plays Freddie Mercury in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. Meanwhile, Malek celebrated his bid to land the Best Leading Actor going by sharing a photo of himself with Beatles legend Paul Mccartney. He met the former Beatle after his concert in London in December.
The actor said: “I got taken backstage as if I was Freddie Mercury. Then Paul goes, ‘I’m going to do my best Beatles pose, you do your best Freddie Mercury pose and let’s take a photo’, and my fist just went straight up into the air.”