BAFTA 2021 Film Awards: Phoebe Dynevor and Priyanka Chopra hit red carpet at Royal Albert Hall

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Phoebe Dyvenor and Priyanka Chopra were among the first stars making their arrival at the 2021 British Academy Film Awards, ahead of the virtual ceremony at London‘s Royal Albert Hall on Sunday.

The actress opted for a dramatic black gown as she sauntered down the red carpet for the socially-distanced event before posing for photos inside, while Priyanka wore a more androgynous look in the form of a red embroidered jacket and white harem trousers. 

A number of stars who were picked to present this year’s awards, including Renée Zellweger and Anna Kendrick, remained in Los Angeles for the awards show and posed for photos in a carpeted room. 

Prince William, meanwhile, withdrew from the BAFTA awards coverage following the death of his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh. 

The Duke Of Cambridge, who is president of BAFTA, was due to deliver a speech via video, celebrating the resilience of the film industry over the past year – but BAFTA has confirmed he will no longer be taking part in the ceremony.

The Duke of Edinburgh died on Friday at Windsor Castle at the age of 99, and was BAFTA’s first president, serving from 1959 to 1965, and continued to support the organisation throughout his life.

This year’s BAFTAs saw the most diverse list of nominees in the awards show’s history compete to win a coveted gold mask, with stars including Anthony Hopkins and Vanessa Kirby nominated for the top prizes.

Phoebe, who starred in Netflix’s Bridgerton, kicked off the red carpet and looked gorgeous in a black tulle gown with a fishtail hem. 

She opted for a touch of added glamour in the form of emerald jewel earrings, and her tresses styled in loose curls as she arrived ahead of presenting one of the awards.

Phoebe presented the Outstanding Debut Award during the ceremony, while Priyanka announced the winner for the Best Animation category.  

Elsewhere Priyanka donned a more androgynous look with a statement red jacket covered with gold embroidery, which thanks to its open front offered a glimpse of her ample cleavage.

The Bollywood star teamed it with white harem trousers and black heels, with a pale blue tassel necklace for a touch of sparkle. 

Priyanka was joined by her dapper husband Nick Jonas for the occasion, and the US singer ensure he caught the eye in a black tuxedo.  

In Los Angeles, Renée stunned in an off-shoulder silver gown with razor-sharp detailing at the bust. The actress, 51, teamed the figure-hugging number with nude killer heels and a single chunky bangle.  

She wore her dark blonde tresses in a wavy, roughly cropped cut for the occasion.

Renée showed off her creamy complexion with a light sweep of foundation and added a nude pop to her pout.

Back in London, Felicity Jones, who presented the Cinematography award, looked the picture of sophistication in a black beaded floor length gown as she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall.  

The actress, 37, draped a tailored black blazer over her shoulders as she stepped out of her car and made her way into the venue. 

She styled her brunette tresses in soft waves and wore a gentle glow of make-up offset with a deep shadowing of mascara on her lashes. 

Sophie Cookson, 30, stepped out in style in a form-fitting black gown. Her frock of choice featured full sleeves and embellished tasselled shoulders, adding an extra layer of pizzazz to her show-stopping look.

Hugh Grant, 60, who gave out the BAFTA Fellowship to Ang Lee, cut a dapper figure alongside his glamorous wife Anna Eberstein, 41.

The actor, 60, looked smart in a black tuxedo, white shirt and black bow tie as he hit the socially-distanced red carpet, while Anna put on a leggy display in a glitzy black mini dress for the awards ceremony.

The couple tied the knot in 2018. 

Liam Payne, 27, showed off his super long lockdown hairdo as he arrived on the red carpet, while Tom Hiddleston, David Oyelowo and James McAvoy looked handsome in tailored suits. 

Anna Kendrick, 35, looked incredible in the burgundy dress which featured a plunging neckline as she posed up a storm in Los Angeles.

Anna cut a glamorous figure in the eye-catching Zuhair Murad number which was cinched in at the waist to show off her toned frame.  

Wunmi Mosaku, who nominated for best actress in a leading role for His House, stood out from the crowd in a satin blue floor-length gown as she too posed for photos in LA. 

Meanwhile in London, Clara Amfo looked effortlessly stylish in her plunging black suit as she made her way down the red carpet ahead of the virtual ceremony.

The presenter’s two-piece boasted a funky black fringed detailing, and finished the look with matching heels

The host, 36, also paid tribute to Prince Philip, who was BAFTA’s first president back in 1959, during Saturday’s opening night as she said he had a ‘very special place’ in the academy’s history and his support had helped them ‘continue in difficult times’.   

And hosts Edith Bowman and Dermot O’Leary honoured The Duke of Edinburgh for his long service to the film community on Sunday. 

Dermot, 47, said of the late royal: ‘He was the first President of BAFTA, and that goes through all the way to our current President, his grandson, the Duke of Cambridge.’

Edith added: ‘It was Prince Philip and Her Majesty, the Queen’s support throughout the years that in many ways has allowed BAFTA, a leading charity in the arts, to continue to, in difficult times, still be here today in 2021. The Duke of Edinburgh occupies a special place in BAFTA history and our thoughts are with the royal family.’ 

The presenters were joined by singer Celeste, 26, who sported an eye-catching deep green gown as she arrived for the ceremony, while Gugu Mbatha-Raw, 37, looked radiant in a figure-hugging sequin dress which also featured a stylish sheer panel across the chest. 

Andra Day, 36, turned heads as she attended the photocall in Los Angeles in a backless bright green gown with gold chain detailing, while Amanda Berry, 34, donned a face shield along with her chic green suit as she headed down the red carpet in London.

Green appeared to be a popular colour of the night as Cynthia Erivo, 34, put on a shimmering display on the red carpet in a space age inspired minidress.  

The BAFTA and EE British Academy Film Awards 2021 is the first of the Academy’s film ceremonies to be held virtually.

The TV version of the awards show took place online during summer 2020, but last year’s film ceremony managed to go ahead a month before the Covid pandemic forced the UK into lockdown.

With the pandemic still raging, another change will take place this year: the BAFTAs will happen in two parts.

Both shows, recognising the very best in film of the past year, will be broadcast virtually from London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The first show celebrates the craft of film while the second main show will feature the mainstream awards.

Show one was hosted by Clara Amfo and eight of the 17 gongs were awarded including Best Casting, Best Visual Effects and the Outstanding Contribution to British Film, which was given to Bulletproof’s Noel Clarke.

In a moving speech he said: ‘Thirteen years ago when I won the rising star award I bounced off my chair and I popped my collar as I went up. 

‘For years I never really understood why I did that. I couldn’t articulate it. For years people have told me how arrogant it was, that I shouldn’t have done it, and I have always said to myself that if I ever got back on this stage again I would apologise for it.  

‘I’m not going to do that. Recently I realised why I did it. I felt vindicated. I won something at the time that someone like me was never supposed to. Something that I had been told I couldn’t.’ 

‘I am so, so thankful for this. Years ago I ended with the words, ‘Yes we can’ and we still can. It’s just tough. So I wanted to end this one a little bit different. 

‘Sometimes you will feel like it is not achievable. It is. Sometimes you will feel like you are not good enough. You are. And sometimes you will feel like you don’t deserve it. You do.’

Show two is to be fronted by Dermot O’Leary and Edith Bowman from London’s Royal Albert Hall where the acting prizes will be given out. No audience will be present.

Both programmes are being broadcast in all major territories around the world and a total of 50 feature films received nominations this year.

Presenters will appear during the ceremony from both London and Los Angeles, but all nominees will accept their prizes virtually in front of a virtual audience watching from home.

Among the prizes announced on the second night will be the public-voted EE Rising Star Award and the Fellowship, BAFTA’s highest honour.  

BAFTA has announced their most diverse list of nominees in the awards’ 74-year history. 

In a first for BAFTA, four women have been nominated in the Director category. Three of the nominated directors are also nominated for Film Not in the English Language.

As part of BAFTA’s pledge to support fresh talent, four of the five nominated films in Outstanding Debut are also nominated across other categories, with first-time nominees accounting for four of the six nominated Directors and 21 of the 24 nominees in the performance categories.

British talent is rife in 2021, with the Outstanding British Film category increasing from six to 10 nominations, three of which are also nominated for Best Film.

Of the difficult times the awards and creative industries have had during the past 12 months – which saw a total shut-down of TV and film production across the world – BAFTA’s Chief Executive Amanda Berry said: ‘The last year has seen the Covid-19 pandemic impact everyone, and the film industry is no exception.

‘I would like to thank all those who have supported us and enabled BAFTA to continue to celebrate the very best work in film, from our members who embraced the changes we made to the voting process to the distributors for ensuring that many more films were available for online viewing.

‘Film has always held an essential place in our culture but I think we can all agree that it has been even more important during this time.

‘I very much look forward to celebrating the incredible talent of all our nominees.’

In the past year, BAFTA undertook a wide-ranging Review, signalling the beginning of a significant cultural shift within the organisation.

The changes introduced for the Film Awards are the first phase in an ongoing process of levelling the playing field for all entered films. 

Krishnendu Majumdar, Chair of BAFTA, said of this: ‘This year’s nominations showcase and celebrate the remarkable range of performances and nominees behind the camera from 50 films and we’re delighted to recognise such high-quality work.

‘We are also delighted to see the strength of British film shine through in all categories.

‘After last year’s nominations, we started the BAFTA Review process with the intention of levelling the playing field and introduced​ a range of measures to ensure that all entered films were seen by our members and judged on merit.

‘We hope today you can see some of those changes reflected in the breadth and depth of those nominated and we congratulate all our nominees.’

Marc Samuelson, Chair of the BAFTA Film Committee, said: ‘It has been an extremely tough year for everyone, including for cinemas and for the film industry, so we are looking forward to some fun, and a celebration of great talent across the weekend. 

‘The industry and film lovers are coming together to shine a spotlight on the creativity and craft behind the 50 nominated films, and to recognise and celebrate the efforts of the industry to keep going during this particularly challenging time.’