Helen Mirren honors the late Queen Elizabeth II. Image Source: The Telegraph
Helen Mirren honors the late Queen Elizabeth II at the BAFTAs in 2023.
The 76th British Academy Film Awards were held on February 19, 2023, at the Royal Festival Hall within London's Southbank Centre. The ceremony was hosted by Richard E. Grant and Alison Hammond and presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
During the ceremony, actress Helen Mirren paid a special tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who died at the age of 96 on September 8, 2022. Helen asserted that Her Majesty flawlessly brought everybody together and united them through a story and that Your Majesty was our nation's leading star.
Helen Mirren said that British Academy Film Awards' relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth Ii was long established, and BAFTA would not be be what it is today without the late queen's steadfast assistance. The actress added that the world was watching her coronation broadcast in 1953 and she was undoubtedly the nation's leading lady at the time, but she was as mysterious as a silent movie star. Helen noted who else other than Her Majesty could meet and manage to convert the world's most famous actors, singers, and performers as her supporting cast. The late British monarch met cinema's biggest icons and observed the evolution of Hollywood's golden age to the birth of the blockbuster during her 70-year reign. Her Majesty was right in the middle of it all.
Helen concluded that cinema at its greatest does what Her Majesty did seamlessly — bring people together and unite people in a story. Your Majesty has been the country's shining star and she went ahead to thank her on behalf of the BAFTA for everything she had done for the television and film industry.
Throughout her career, Helen Mirren has managed to play the late British monarch twice. She played Elizabeth in the 2006 film The Queen, which researched the palace's reaction to Princess Diana's death in 1997. Helen Mirren received the Oscar for Best Actress, as well as a BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance. During her Oscar acceptance speech, Helen thanked the real Elizabeth, who was then 80 years old. Helen said that Elizabeth Windsor has retained her dignity, a sense of duty, and haircut for 50 years and more adding that she seemed to have her feet firmly planted in the ground, her hat on her head, her handbag on her arm, and she's withstood many, many storms.
The actress continued that she salutes her courage and strength and continuity, and she thanks her because, without her, she would quite certainly not be there. In 2013, the Woman in Gold actress reprised her role as Elizabeth in Peter Morgan's play The Audience, which debuted in London's West End before having to move to Broadway in 2015. In June 2015, Helen Mirren received a Tony Award for her performance.
Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, who appeared emotional, sat in the audience, and Prince William seemed to have tears in his eyes throughout Helen Mirren's mark of respect as he and Kate showed up Sunday as the show's honored guests. Prince William attended the event as President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts before having to meet the night's winners and EE Rising Star nominees.
Before the ceremony, the British Academy stated that the Queen continues to occupy a special place in BAFTA's history, a strong alliance that has encompassed 50 years. The Queen was very well for her assistance of the UK's creative arts through her various patronages. The honor comes two years after the annual British film awards respected Prince Philip, who earlier served as President of BAFTA from 1959 to 1965 before passing away on April 9, 2021, at the age of 99.
During the 74th ceremony, host Clara Amfo stated that it was Prince Philip and Her Majesty the Queen's inspiration over the years that enabled BAFTA, a renowned design and art charity, to stay the course in challenging times and to be here today, in 2021, memorializing some other outstanding year of achievement in film. BAFTA has a special place in its history for the Duke of Edinburgh, and their sentiments remain with the royal family.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived on the red carpet dressed to the nines, with William in a black velvet tuxedo and Kate in a reconfigured Alexander McQueen one-shoulder gown and statement black opera gloves. She finally finished the look with large, eye-catching rose gold earrings and a small black clutch. Kate first wore the Grecian-style gown with floral detailing on the shoulder to the 2019 BAFTAs. The pair was all smiles on the carpet, walking side by side while they conversed and waved to spectators before entering the award ceremony.
