The , or BAFTAs, have given audiences some great moments in recent years. Remember Ariana DeBose鈥檚 that awkward performance that had a joyful second life as a joke? Or Ryan Gosling鈥檚 wink at Emma Stone last year that had internet shippers in a tizzy?
The worst part is that for some parts of the world, including the U.S., they鈥檙e also not the easiest to watch 鈥� or at least a little harder than just turning on ABC (and soon Hulu) to watch the .
The Associated Press is here to help those without a BritBox subscription with a rundown of the best and most memorable moments of the night, where (though Mikey Madison did triumph over best actress front-runner Demi Moore), and proved it鈥檚 still a contender.
鈥�(500 Miles)鈥� singalong with Brian Cox
got the ceremony off to an amusing start with a pre-recorded bit where various actors give him a little pep talk, appearing in his dressing room mirror 鈥� including fellow Scot Brian Cox, who kicked off a rousing rendition of The Proclaimers song 鈥淚鈥檓 Gonna Be (500 Miles).鈥� Tennant took over and brought the anthem into the room, where Selena Gomez seemed genuinely surprised when he tapped her shoulder and inserted her name into the song. There were the celebrity participants of course, James McAvoy, Camila Cabello and Colman Domingo among them. But even some not 鈥渋n the show鈥� sang along happily as well, and Jack Lowden included. Others, like Adrien Brody and Demi Moore, did not seem to be part of the chorus.
Selena Gomez narrowly avoids a presenting gaffe
No presenter wants a or, worse, a , and you could see the wheels turning in Gomez鈥檚 head as she looked at the card for the debut by a British writer, director or producer award. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how to say,鈥� she said quietly from stage, looking at her co-star and co-presenter, before looking further down on the card. 鈥淥h, 鈥楰neecap,鈥欌�� she said, quietly adding, 鈥淩ich鈥� and simply avoiding last name, Peppiatt.
Jesse Eisenberg鈥檚 sweet, funny tribute to his wife
started off his best screenplay win for with some signature, self-deprecating jokes about how neither he, his wife nor the person who sat him thought he was going to win. The audience laughed loudly when he said that鈥檚 why his wife didn鈥檛 attend the ceremony. But he quickly turned sincere, offering a touching tribute to his wife, Anna Strout, whom he credited with helping him learn about the world around him. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e put every worthwhile thought into my head over the last 20 years,鈥� Eisenberg said. 鈥淚 love you so much.鈥�
Zoe Salda帽a鈥檚 teary, fierce speech
Perhaps Salda帽a was feeling the pressure of two days . Or maybe she was just really overwhelmed to win the best supporting actress BAFTA. Regardless, she let her emotions show in a teary and intense speech, in which she poked fun at her own inability to do a good British accent, shouted out her makeup artist as her closest confidant and made a case for the film.
鈥淔ilms are supposed to change hearts and challenge minds, and I hope, I hope that 鈥楨milia P茅rez鈥� did something like this,鈥� she said. 鈥淰oices need to be heard, just not my English accent. Bye, guys.鈥�
Jeff Goldblum, piano man
In memoriam segments don鈥檛 need to be flashy. All you need is a thoughtful reel, Jeff Goldblum and a piano, it turns out. He played 鈥淎s Time Goes By.鈥�
Warwick Davis 鈥渒eeps it short,鈥� and sincere
joked that he鈥檇 keep his BAFTA Fellowship acceptance speech 鈥渟hort,鈥� telling the audience that it鈥檚 OK, they can laugh. 鈥淭his is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I鈥檝e been in 鈥楽tar Wars,鈥欌�� he said. Davis also got emotional, speaking about his wife who died last year.
鈥淪he was always so supportive of my career, encouraging me to grab every opportunity with both hands,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ince then, life has been pretty tough for me. Thanks to the support of our wonderful children, I鈥檝e been able to continue working and engaging in life.鈥�
Mikey Madison gets her moment
Moore has been sweeping many of the best actress prizes, but got a great, big moment and win. Though she said she didn't expect it, and said she should have 鈥渓istened to my publicist and written a speech,鈥� Madison gave a notably thoughtful speech, paying tribute to her director, producer, co-stars, and the sex worker community.
鈥淚 just want to say: I see you. You deserve respect and human decency,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 will always be a friend and an ally, and I implore others to do the same.鈥�
Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press
