Since Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022, the United Kingdom has entered a long period of grief, with formal memorials hosted almost at any official event. The BAFTAs will do the same.
On February 19, the Royal Festival Hall in London will be filled with the most influential personalities in the entertainment industry. The very prestigious list of nominees that this Sunday will compete for one of the essential cinematic awards includes Colin Farrell, Paul Mescal, Carey Mulligan, and Cate Blanchett.
However, this peculiar event is not only characterized by the presence of actors, directors, and other artists but also by members of the Royal Family.
The House of Windsor has always had a strong relationship with the film organization, and William, the Prince of Wales, who is set to be in the audience along with his wife, the Princess of Wales, has been president of Bafta since 2010.
Noticeably, this year will be different due to the loss of the late monarch.
As previously announced by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, a tribute will take place on Sunday night to pay homage to Elizabeth II, who “occupies a unique place in Bafta’s history […] through her various patronages, the Queen was renowned for her support of the UK’s creative industries”, as reported by a Bafta’s spokesman on The Telegraph.
A few examples of the Queen’s commitment to the world of arts and cinema can be reflected in her role as patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Royal Variety Charity, and the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund. Additionally, in April 2013, Sir Kenneth Branagh awarded the Queen with an honorary Bafta for her support for the industry.
Therefore, several well-known figures have been ordered to report to the Academy to become part of the anticipated tribute this Sunday night.
Among the several personalities listed for this honor, the name Dame Helen Mirren stands out. This choice has been welcomed not only because of the iconic artist she is but also because she is one of the very few women that can praise herself to have masterfully played the late Queen Elizabeth.
In 2006, the 77-year-old British actress won an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress for the Biographical film The Queen.
Noticeably, her magisterial interpretation reached the heart of many, among whom the Queen herself, by depicting a deep, intense, and strong woman to found herself leading the United Kingdom. A woman that was not destined for that life but that willingly committed to that role came across difficult moments and difficult decisions to make.
On Sunday 19, the role will reverse, and Madam Mirren will find herself in a crucial symbolic role. To lead the late Queen’s tribute is an onerous duty, especially considering the past that Elizabeth II has with the Bafta and cinematic industry. However, who can be a better homage to the Queen than the queen herself?
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