Hollywood stars descend on London on Sunday for the BAFTAs, Britain’s top movie honours, where the thriller Conclave and period drama The Brutalist look set to face competition from Anora, which is emerging as an awards season favourite. The event saw Conclave take home the Best Film award after leading the nominations with 12.
Emilia Pérez, with nine nominations, had a strong showing, highlighted by Zoe Saldaña winning Best Supporting Actress. Meanwhile, Anora delivered a major surprise in the Best Leading Actress category as Mikey Madison secured the award. The night was filled with notable victories and emotional moments, making for a memorable BAFTA ceremony. Both Madison and Saldaña delivered powerful and heartfelt speeches, adding to the evening’s significance.
WATCH: Mikey Madison & Zoe Saldaña’s BAFTA Speeches Steal the Show
Mikey Madison received the Best Leading Actress award for her compelling performance in Anora. During her speech, she made a heartfelt tribute to the sex worker community, acknowledging their struggles and advocating for their rights.
"I just want to say I see you, you deserve respect and human decency. I will always be a friend and an ally, and I implore others to do the same," Madison said, reflecting on the time she spent shadowing sex workers to prepare for her role. She had immersed herself in pole dancing and spent time with sex workers to bring authenticity to her portrayal of Ani, a young woman who marries the son of a Russian oligarch.
She then expressed gratitude to her mother for supporting her acting journey and reserved special praise for Anora's director, Sean Baker. Take a look at her winning speech below.
Zoe Saldaña took home the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2025 BAFTAs for her role in Emilia Pérez. She plays Rita Mora Castro, a frustrated lawyer who reluctantly agrees to assist a drug lord in undergoing gender reassignment surgery in the drama.
The actor called the recognition “so validating” and “a true honour.” Reflecting on the challenges of the film, she shared, “This was a creative challenge of a lifetime; how do you begin to even approach a film that just defies categorisation, and you start by taking the lead of (director) Jacques Audiard.”
However, her speech took an unfiltered turn when the countdown timer prompted her to wrap up. Frustrated, Saldaña, 46, blurted out, “fk, fk, fk,” before being swiftly pulled off camera.
Ending on a strong note, she stated, “Films are supposed to change hearts and challenge minds, and I hope Emilia Pérez did something like this because voices need to be heard, just not my English accent.”
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