The 2014 BAFTAs Run Like The Oscars' Older, Funnier Sister

As the British equivalent to the Oscars, last night’s BAFTAs were obviously a glamorous affair. In between bouts of Stephen Fry’s self deprecating humor (“[Oprah’s] performance in The Butler was so moving, I almost gave mine the afternoon off.”) and jabs at all of his colleagues (Fry introduced the flawless Emma Thompson as “In the film world, a goddess. In real life, a ghastly piece of sickly shrieking awful.”) there were also some awards given out.

The big winners of the night were somewhat surprising. Predictions pegged Gravity and 12 Years A Slave – the two award show favorites so far – for the majority of BAFTAs as well. Instead, the Steve McQueen directed 12 Years only took two awards out of 8 nods total. Granted, they were the big ones - best film and leading actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) – but that was it.

There were shocks in the supporting actor and actresses categories – and 12 Years a Slave took a hit both times. Jennifer Lawrence, hugely popular in the film industry here and in the States, took the supporting actress BAFTA for her role as an outspoken, erratic wife in American Hustle, thus beating out hot favourite Lupita Nyong’o. As for the male category, it went to Barkhad Abdi, who played one of the Somali pirates in Captain Phillips. Abdi wasn’t a favorite to win, with most bookies predicting an award for Michael Fassbender, but lo and behold – Abdi was finally recognized.

Barkhad Abdi got recognized for his work in Captain Philips.