One of Britain’s fastest-rising actors delivered the shock of the night at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards, as Robert Aramayo unexpectedly triumphed over Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet to win Best Actor — just minutes after collecting the Rising Star Award.
The 33-year-old actor from Hull appeared visibly stunned as his name was announced, marking an unforgettable double win for his role in I Swear, in which he portrays Scottish Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson.
A Night of Surprises and Standout Wins
While Aramayo claimed the top male acting honour, Jessie Buckley secured Best Actress for her performance in Hamnet, delivering an emotional speech reflecting on her unlikely journey into filmmaking.
The awards momentum continued for One Battle After Another, with director Paul Thomas Anderson winning both Best Director and Adapted Screenplay. The film also found success in technical categories, including Best Editing and Best Cinematography.
Meanwhile, Sean Penn was named Best Supporting Actor, while British actress Wunmi Mosaku took home the Supporting Actress award for her role in vampire hit Sinners.
Records Broken and Oscars Buzz Builds
Described by insiders as a key bellwether ahead of the Oscars, One Battle After Another led this year’s BAFTA nominations with 14 nods, followed closely by Sinners, Hamnet, and Marty Supreme.
Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, made BAFTA history by earning 11 nominations — the most ever for a female-directed film — and went on to win Outstanding British Film.
Accepting Best Film, Anderson called the win a “tremendous honour,” adding that cinema remains as powerful as ever, urging filmmakers to “keep making things without fear.”
Star Power, Red Carpet Moments — and Paddington Steals the Show
The ceremony, hosted by Alan Cumming at London’s Royal Festival Hall, was packed with memorable moments — from Paddington Bear charming the audience as a surprise presenter, to red-carpet PDA from Paul Mescal and girlfriend Gracie Abrams.
Elsewhere, DiCaprio attended with his mother Irmelin Indenbirken, while Kylie Jenner made headlines for her bemused reaction as she was handed “very British snacks” by the host during the show.
Winners at a Glance
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Best Film: One Battle After Another
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Leading Actor: Robert Aramayo (I Swear)
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Leading Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
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Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
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Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners)
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Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
As the curtains closed on another glittering BAFTA night, one thing was clear: a new British leading man has arrived — and with Oscar season looming, Hollywood is officially on notice.
