Richard E Grant apologises as he becomes choked up while announcing in memoriam segment at Baftas

During this year’s Baftas, Richard E Grant had to halt when introducing the in memoriam portion.

As he asked event attendees to commemorate individuals in the film business who died in the previous year, the actor grew upset and tried to hold back tears.

Joan Washington, a vocal instructor to celebrities such as Penelope Cruz and Jessica Chastain, died in September 2021 following a fatal cancer diagnosis.

After feeling emotional, Richard briefly interrupted his speech and apologised before resuming.

He went on to say that “their imprint lives on in film” before names like Dame Angela Lansbury, Dame Olivia Newton-John, Sylvia Syms, Robbie Coltrane, and Burt Bacharach came on screen.

The Baftas event has shifted to the Royal Festival Hall this year, from the Royal Albert Hall, where it has been held since 2017.

For the first time in three years, the Prince and Princess of Wales attended the awards, which will be hosted by Richard and Alison Hammond.

As the event approached the midway point on Sunday, the Banshees of Inisherin and All Quiet on the Western Front prevailed.

Not only did Kerry Condon win best supporting actress, while her Banshees co-star Barry Keoghan won best supporting actor, but All Quiet On The Western Front won best adapted screenplay, with director and author Edward Berger paying respect to soldiers fighting in Ukraine.

Because the film is anti-war, screenwriter Ian Stokell believed it was worth the wait.

Barry acknowledged that he’should have planned this, actually,’ before thanking his co-stars and Ireland.

He also dedicated the medal to children from his hometown.

All Quiet On The Western Front also won the prize for best picture not made in English.

All Quiet On The Western Front won best cinematography, with main cinematographer James Friend praising his wife, daughter, and other nominees.

Sir Patrick Stewart presented the award for best British picture to the dark comedy The Banshees Of Inisherin, which now has four nominations.

‘I know every Irish person in the cast and crew is saying “best what?”‘ remarked director and writer Martin McDonagh.

He also complimented the actors and crew, as well as the stand-in donkey, who he said is British and never made it on film because she was ‘too tubby’.

Source My Celebrity Life.