Bafta Awards Go To Elizabeth, The Movie And The Actress

- StudioBriefing, 12 April 1999


It was an Elizabethan night at the 51st annual British Academy of
Film and TV Arts (BAFTA) ceremonies Sunday night with five awards
going to Elizabeth, the movie and a lifetime award going to
Elizabeth, the actress. Cate Blanchett was named best actress for
her role as the British monarch, winning over Gwyneth Paltrow,
who took the best actress Oscar. The Australian beauty said later,
"I really didn't expect the award. As the nominations were read
out all I could think was that I needed the loo." Elizabeth also
received the BAFTA award for best British film of 1998, while
Shakespeare in Love (1998) was judged best picture overall.
Roberto Benigni won the best actor award for Life Is Beautiful
(1997). The man who had said that he had "used up" all his English
at the Oscars, told the audience upon receiving the award that he
was "filled with joy like a watermelon which is about to explode."
The best director honor went to Peter Weir for Truman Show, The
(1998). In accepting her BAFTA Fellowship Award, Elizabeth Taylor
commented that she never thought she'd receive it because "I don't
think of myself as an actress and I don't think any of you did."
Backstage, she told reporters that she was no longer able to act
because she is "uninsurable."