BAFTAs 2014!

Sunday 16th February

Advance warning: this is going to be a long post! I lvoe the BAFTAs, every year I meet someone I really like, from Emma Watson to JK Rowling, George Clooney to Anna Kendrick, Jennifer Lawrence to Daniel Craig. It’s always a fun evening. The nominees for this years ceremony came out at the beginning of the year, and it’s been a long wait since then for BAFTA weekend to come around. Each year I say the guest list can’t get better than the previous one, and each year it does. Seriously, I’m sure one year will come and someone in the BAFTA office will say “you know what, we really can’t beat this lineup”.

As Sunday got closer, a BAFTA tradition looked like it would end; the forecast said it would be sunny. It ALWAYS rains at the BAFTAs! This couldn’t be true. Anyways, Sunday finally arrived, and guess what; beautiful weather! I was so happy just by that. The atmosphere on that red carpet is awesome, but SO much better if it’s dry. After a rather nice lunch with some friends we headed to our spot on the red carpet. Excitement levels finally kick in after saying all week I wasn’t that excited. So, you ready? Here’s how the evening went.

First to arrive was Luther, Saving Mr Banks and the Lone Ranger star, Ruth Wilson. She was lovely, and signed an index card for me.

Christoph Waltz, best known for Inglorious Bastards and Django Unchained followed next; he signed an index card for me too.

The first BAFTA nominee to come over was director of 12 Years A Slave and Shame, Steve McQueen! He was great, signing and talking away; he signed an index card for me too. 

I spotted David Morrissey (The Walking Dead, Doctor Who) and called him over; he happily signed an index card and posed for a photo with me. First photo of the night!

The winner of the EE Rising Star Award, Will Poulter, came over next, and was as nice as always, and posed for a photo with me. I’ve liked Will for a few years now, and he’s always a great guy. Plus We’re The Millers was the funniest film of 2013.

He was followed by Captain Phillips star Barkhad Abdi. Barkhad seemed a bit overwhelmed by all the attention, but still signed an index card and posed for a photo.

First of the big guns followed next, Rush star Daniel Bruhl. He was really rushing (hope the pun is appreciated), but still signed an index card for me.

 

Right behind him was Formula 1 legend and three time World Champion, Niki Lauda. When I left home, Niki was one of the people I most wanted to meet, so I think I turned a bit animated at this point. He kindly signed an index card for me, and posed for a photo too! Result! I could now go home happy! I love my F1, and it’s not often I get a chance to meet a World Champion, let alone one of the greatest racers of all time.

Eddie Redmayne, best known as Marius in Les Miserables, came over next. He signed a Les Mis photo for me, and posed for a photo too. This was a photo I printed for last years awards, but it was so wet I didn’t even attempt getting them out of my bag!

Sunshine on Leith star George MacKay (another Rising Star nominee) was close behind. He signed an index card and posed for a photo too.

The star of 12 Years A Slave (and winner of the Best Actor BAFTA) Chiwitel Ejiofor followed, and signed an index card and posed for a photo with me. Everyone was a bit distracted by this point though (see below), so I was one of the only people to get him.

Oh, did I say distracted? That’s because Leonardo DiCaprio was signing right next to Chiwitel! He’s being really nice and taking his time with people, just as he did at the premiere of the Wolf of Wall Street. I managed to get my DVD of The Great Gatsby signed, and got another photo with him. However…… my selfie taking skills kinda let me down this time. 

The Hunger Games‘ Finnick, aka Sam Claflin, followed next; he signed an index card and posed for a photo with me. His girlfriend Laura Haddock, best known for The Inbetweeners Movie, did the same. Talking of the Hunger Games, I’m still disappointed Jennifer Lawrence didn’t show…..

Gravity (and Harry Potter ) director Alfonso Cuaron soon followed. He too signed an index card and posed for a photo. Another Harry Potter director for my collection!

Richie Cuningham turned film director Ron Howard came over next, and was awesome! Guess what? He signed an index card and posed for a photo too. This was going awesomely!

Film God Martin Scorsese ran up the carpet quicker than Usain Bolt could’ve, and didn’t pick up a pen. Shame, but unexpected.

Talking of film Gods, there’s Tom Hanks, and he’s signing! Shock! Twice in 4 months! He signed my Green Mile DVD sleeve, and once again didn’t pose for a photo. Am I surprised? Nope! Happy to have my DVD signed though!

I did however get a photo with his wife, actress Rita Wilson (I got her autograph back in October).

The Musketeers and Skins actor Luke Pasqualino followed, and signed an index card and posed for a photo with me.

Sally Hawkins, nominated for her role in Blue Jasmine came over and was lovely; she posed for a photo with me. I told her I loved her in the play Constellations last year, and she seemed to really appreciate that. 

Talking of Blue Jasmine, Cate Blanchett is in sight… and she’s coming over to sign! Wow! She only signed 4 or 5, but one of those was for me, well happy! Have heard so many bad stories in the past, never expected to get her.

Alan Partridge aka Steve Coogan at the same time, and posed for a photo with me. Look closely, he’s in the photos of Cate above! I’m really pleased he won a Screenplay award for Philomena, it’s really deserved.

Singer Lily Allen is nearby now, and is totally fanboying over Tom Hanks, it’s rather cute to see. She got the courage to introduce herself, and it was so funny to see such an outspoken character turn so starstruck! She came over and signed an index card and posed for a photo with me.

Broadwalk Empire actor Jack Huston came over too; I didn’t get him as have met him a few times during his current theatre run in the West End, but he was as friendly as usual. 

Joely Richardson‘s appeared out of nowhere! She signed an index card for me.

British icon Emma Thompson‘s here next, and is being as lovely as ever; I had nothing for her to sign so just got a photo with her. I got an index card signed and photo with her husband, Greg Wise, who played Agent One in Johnny English, one of my favourite films as a child. 

annnnddd there’s Bradley Cooper. I might’ve deafened everyone near me at this point. My luck when it comes to meeting Bradley is absolutely atrocious, he’s one of my favourite actors but have never had any success meeting him. Hangover premieres, promo interviews, other awards, zilch. I’d go to things where I thought I was guaranteed to meet him, I didn’t. I’d stay at home where I thought it’d be difficult, he’d sign. It was getting a bit annoying after a while! But he’s being interviewed very close by, and when finished he came right over. The people I was with knew he was the one person I wanted to meet, so made sure I didn’t miss out. I got a Silver Linings Playbook photo signed, and my 3 Hangover DVDs (can’t believe I got all 3 signed!), and got a belting photo with him, that he took. Day absolutely made!!!

Jesus, Helen Mirren‘s coming over now! This is complete bonkers! I love Helen, but she’s never agreed to a photo with me before, until right here! I usually manage to keep my cool in these sorts of situations, but I failed here. I talked utter babble at her (about going to her booksigning straight after school once, and she said I looked smart in my uniform!!), and she signed a The Queen photo for me. The day that just keeps giving!

Film producing maestro Harvey Weinstein is on the carpet, and poses for a photo with me.

Security are starting to clear the carpet, which can only mean one thing, royalty’s turning up soon. But still there’s time for a few more surprises! The most powerful woman in the world, Oprah Winfrey comes over, signs my autograph book and poses for a photo. Eek!

Uma Thurman‘s on the carpet now too, but is following security’s advise to not stop. Stanley Tucci however isn’t; he posed for a quick photo with me! I missed out on a photo at the Catching Fire premiere, so awesome to get one now. Love the Devil Wears Prada!

and there’s Batman!! Christian Bale is going along, and is also ignoring security’s demands to get moving. He’s signing loads, and posing for an occasional photo. He signed my photo, and posed for a quick photo with me too. Awesome! Never thought this’d be happening!

The carpet’s clearing now, and before long it’s totally empty. Can only mean one thing, Prince William is about to arrive. Sure enough, with a rather large police escort, his car arrives and out he gets. He’s walking along the carpet with Amanda Berry, the head of BAFTA, who encourages him to say hi to some fans, which he happily does. Protocol says Royals never sign, but a handshake with the future King of England is pretty sweet! However, I decide to go for it. He gets to me, shakes my hand and I ask if I can get a photo with him. I expect to be jumped on by some security guards at this point, but instead he just says “sure”.

So, there you have it. I got a photo with the future King of England. You can tell an entire red carpet has just thought “why didn’t I think of that?”. Sure enough, this momentous occasion (I joke) was shown live on BBC News and Sky News. It also made the front page of the Daily Mail’s website..

.. and Page 2 of their paper the next day. I can now be known as “the person that got a selfie with Prince William”. What a day.

And there we are, another BAFTAs over. 6th one, and by far my best one. Where else in the year can you get so many people in the space of an hour and a half? It’s amazing. You miss half the celebrities there (Brangelina, Michelle Rodriguez, Uma Thurman, Ray Winstone, Maggie Gyllenhall, Lea Seadoux to name a few this year), but you really don’t care. It’s an amazing atmosphere and I’m so glad they let fans get near the carpet. Compared to the big awards in the States, this seems such a privilege.

To top off the evening, my good friend Val was at The Monuments Men premiere (which I couldn’t make), and got me Matt Damon‘s autograph. He was another no-show at the ceremony, so it was awesome to get him via her!

Roll on 2015!