'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ Bags Five BAFTA Awards
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri bagged the top honors at the 71st British Academy Film Awards in London on Sunday, Feb. 18.
The drama, written and directed by Academy Award-winning director Martin McDonagh (In Bruges), was singled out as the winner in five categories on Sunday.
McDormand Wins Best Actress
Frances McDormand, who plays the role of a bereaved mother who rents three billboards to draw attention to her daughter's unsolved murder in the film, took home the Best Actress honor. Sam Rockwell won the award in the Best Supporting Actor category, beating costar Woody Harrelson for the iconic BAFTA mask trophy.
McDormand accepted her Best Actress award in a red and black ensemble.
"As Martin said I have a little trouble with compliance but I want you to know I stand in alliance with my sisters in black," the actress said about her dress, which was a contrast to the shades of black worn by swarms of women to show their solidarity with the Time's Up movement.
"In drama school I was told I wasn't naturally gifted and I should work at it. So I did," she quipped. This was McDormand's first BAFTA award after four nominations.
McDonagh Wins Best Screenplay
Although McDonagh bagged the Best Screenplay award for the tragicomedy, he missed out in the Best Director category, with the award going to The Shape of Water director Guillermo Del Toro instead. Del Toro's fantasy drama took home the second-highest number of honors with three awards, while Blade Runner 2049 and Darkest Hour won two each.
Road To The Oscars
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri also won best film as well as best British film at Sunday night's award ceremony.
However, the BAFTA Awards may not be the best barometer for success at the Oscars. Over the last 10 years, there have only been four instances in which a film that picked up a BAFTA for Best Film went on to win an Academy Award in the same category.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has been nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress for McDormand and Best Supporting Actor nods for Harrelson and Rockwell.
The film has won several other awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes this year. The film also picked up three honors, including Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
