More than an award

Imagine you’re walking down the red carpet. There are flashing lights everywhere and photographers are screaming your name. Interviewers are dying to ask you questions. You’ve recently been in a hit film. Everyone knows your name. Where are you? Who are you? You’re at the BAFTAs of course.

One of the most prestigious awards in film and theatre, every British arts personality dreams of winning a BAFTA award. Why? What is it about this award that drives actors and can consume them?

On face value, the BAFTA is nothing more than a shiny metal award but it is the notion behind this award that makes it the best award for any British actor to win. Meryl Streep has gone on record of saying she feels “humbled” to win a BAFTA – this should give you an idea of how desperately celebrities want this award if even Meryl feels this way!

The BAFTA is so much more than the award itself. There’s the pre-party, the award ceremony and the after-party. All three are attended by glamorous and exclusive A List celebrities. However, the less know side of the BAFTAs is the all-inclusive backstage exhibition, which, as long as you have a ticket, can be attended by any member of the public.

You can feel the inspiration as you walk through the halls decorated with pictures of celebrities gracing the all famous red carpet and taking to the stage to give their acceptance speech. Katie Russell, a drama student at the exhibition, says it was “amazing to think blood, sweat and tears go into winning this award.” The 22-year-old is currently studying at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and describes the actual award gong itself as “pretty small” for how prestigious it is. She wasn’t disappointed with seeing the award but she was surprised at the size of it.

Preeti Sarania is one of the many tour guides who were on hand to inform and answer questions. Although the BAFTA awards will not take place until 8^th February, so much work has already gone into the event. Invites have been sent, entertainment has been booked and stars have picked out their outfits in anticipation of making the ‘best dressed list.’

Many stars have walked the infamous red carpet, such as Lisa Maxwell.
Photo credit; damo1977

The tour guide says the exhibition offers members of the public a chance to “view a glimpse” of the work that goes into putting on the award ceremony. Preeti explains that some people travel far to see the exhibition because of how prestigious the BAFTAs actually are. She says, “It’s humbling because for me, I’m just going to work, but when I speak to someone who has travelled far to see this, it makes me realise how much people want to be part of this process.”

The infamous red carpet was shown at the exhibition. Many celebrities have walked on this carpet and have impressed, or disappointed, the world with their outfits. A hall of fame has been set up at the exhibition to show some of the best and the worst dressed celebrities that have attended the BAFTAs. Everyone from Brad and Angelina to Kerry Howard has been invited to the award ceremony.

This year’s exhibition displayed five exclusive images taken by Cornel Lucas, the only photographer who has won a BAFTA award for his services to the film industry. He won his BAFTA in 1998 and to this day, no one has followed in his footsteps. Lucas has since gone on to become a globally recognised photographer and has made a name for himself in the photography world.

Of course there are only a small handful of people who get to go to the actual award ceremony. The big A List stars will be there and the best reporters will be there hoping to get the exclusive scoop.

According to Preeti, you have to be “the best of the best” in order to go to the award ceremony. Anyone who attends the BAFTAs on behalf of a news institution is expected to get an exclusive scoop that will make their story stand out from the rest.

So why is this award seemingly better than the rest? What is it that makes top British actors desperate to win this award?

Photo credit; Rev Stan

“The stigma attached to a BAFTA award is so great that for a drama fan, like me, there would be no bigger prize to get your hands on,” says Katie Howlett, a drama teacher at Walthamstow Academy. The teacher beams at the thought of one of her students winning a BAFTA. “It would be an honour,” says the teacher if a student of hers won the award.