Colin Firth won the leading actor trophy for his performance as King George VI in "The King's Speech" on Sunday at the Orange British Academy Film Awards.
Firth, who won the same honor last year for his role in Tom Ford's "A Single Man," is considered the front-runner for the Oscar in the same category. The top British film award and the Oscars have aligned fairly closely in recent years.
His competition was Javier Bardem for "Biutiful," Jeff Bridges for "True Grit," Jesse Eisenberg for "The Social Network" and James Franco for "127 Hours."
The awards, presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, were handed out at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in London.
--Susan King
Photo of Colin Firth from Getty Images.
At the Orange British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, Natalie Portman won best actress for her performance as a delusional ballerina in the psychological thriller "Black Swan."
Portman is also the front-runner for the Oscar. The top British film awards and the Oscars have been aligning fairly closely in recent years.
She was in competition with Annette Bening and Julianne Moore, who costarred in "The Kids Are All Right," Noomi Rapace for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and Hailee Steinfeld for "True Grit."
The awards, presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, were handed out in a ceremony at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.
-- Susan King
Photo: Natalie Portman in "Black Swan." Credit: Reuters
Aaron Sorkin won the BAFTA award on Sunday in London for adapted screenplay for "The Social Network." Sorkin can add this Orange British Academy Film Award to the numerous critics and guild honors he's won this year for his script about the rise of Facebook.
He recently won the Golden Globe and the Writers Guild Award and also is up for an Oscar.
-- Susan King
Photo: Aaron Sorkin. Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times
At the BAFTA Awards, "Toy Story 3" won the Orange British Academy Film Award for animated film on Sunday evening in London.
The critically acclaimed box-office hit was considered the favorite to take the award. It has won the lion's share of animation awards this season and is up for Oscars in five categories including best picture and best animated film.
-- Susan King
Photo: "Toy Story 3." Credit: Disney Pixar / Associated Press
"The King's Speech" has won another major Orange British Academy Film Award -- original screenplay for David Seidler. This makes five BAFTA awards for the period drama, which is also nominated for 12 Academy Awards.
"The King's Speech" also has won outstanding British film, supporting actor for Geoffrey Rush, supporting actress for Helena Bonham Carter and original score for Alexandre Desplat.
-- Susan King
Photo: David Seidler. Credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times
Halfway through the BAFTA Awards ceremony at London's Royal Opera House, "The King's Speech" has earned four Orange British Academy Film Awards -- the latest being supporting actor for Geoffrey Rush.
The Oscar favorite for best picture also has won outstanding British film, supporting actress for Helena Bonham Carter and original score for Alexandre Desplat.
-- Susan King
Photo: Geoffrey Rush in "The King's Speech." Credit: Laurie Sparham / The Weinstein Company
British actress and fashionista Helena Bonham Carter just earned the Orange British Academy Film Award for supporting actress for her role as the queen in "The King's Speech." She is also nominated for an Academy Award in that category.
Earlier in the ceremony presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Alexandre Desplat won for his score for the period drama.
--Susan King
Photo: Helena Bonham Carter in "The King's Speech." Credit: The Weinstein Company
"Inception," Christopher Nolan's surreal, dense thriller nominated for nine Orange British Academy Film Awards, is dominating the crafts categories at the awards ceremony presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. So far, it has won for production design, sound and special visual effects.
--Susan King
Photo: Leonardo DiCaprio in "Inception." Credit: Stephen Vaughan / Warner Bros.
The Swedish thriller "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" won the Orange British Academy Film Award on Sunday evening in London for the best film not in English. Meanwhile, "Alice in Wonderland" has won two awards for costume design and hair and makeup.
-- Susan King
Photo: Noomi Rapace, left, as Lisbeth Salander and Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." Credit: Knut Koivisto / Music Box Films
The Orange British Academy Film Awards just got underway in London's Royal Opera House and "The King's Speech," which dominates the nominations with 14, got off to a good start by winning original music for Alexandre Desplat. The award was presented by Paul McCartney.
--Susan King
Photo: Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush in "The King's Speech." Credit: Laurie Sparham /The Weinstein Company.
