Baftas under fire after failing to nominate a single ethnic minority in ANY major acting category… again
BAFTA bosses’ vows to be more inclusive were dealt another humiliating blow yesterday when their film awards nominations were announced.
Despite being desperate to be seen as woke, members failed to nominate a single ethnic minority in any of the four major acting categories.
And no women made the cut for Best Director either — a snub for Little Women’s hotly tipped Greta Gerwig.
It follows a similar controversy in 2016 when Idris Elba and John Boyega were the only black actors up for film gongs.
Other big names missing out this time include Jennifer Lopez for Hustlers, Eddie Murphy for Dolemite Is My Name and Lupita Nyong'o in the chilling Us.
In contrast, actresses Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson were each nominated twice while film Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix, led the way with 11 nods.
After the short-list — compiled by members working in the industry — was announced, Bafta chief executive Amanda Berry was forced into a grovelling statement as #BaftasSoWhite began trending on Twitter.
She said: “I’m very disappointed. That’s how I felt when I first saw the list and this isn’t being disrespectful to anyone who has been nominated because it’s an incredibly strong list this year.”
She also admitted a Bafta-led scheme to help support female directors had been allowed to slide in recent years.
She said: “A couple of years ago we did an initiative to support female directors and actually, looking at the list this year, we have decided we are going to do it again.
“We need to up our efforts and keep the pressure on the industry to create opportunities.”
Her words come four years after making a similar statement following the 2016 row.
At the time she blamed the “lack of diversity in the film industry”, adding: I can’t control who’s nominated.”
I wonder what, or who, she’ll try to blame this time.
Leo proves he's worlds apart
LEONARDO DiCaprio has insisted he is down to earth, despite what Ricky Gervais would have you believe.
The actor was at Sunday’s Golden Globes when the comedian rinsed the Hollywood elite, telling them not to make political speeches because they “know nothing about the real world”.
Leo told podcast WTF With Marc Maron: “Although we have been incredibly fortunate and have had a long successful career, we know this world.
"I have grown up around actors who almost got this role or that role. We knew this dynamic in Hollywood.”
Erm, that’s not quite what Ricky meant, Leo. I suppose that proves his point.
bizbit
BTS will return with their album Map Of The Soul: 7 on February 21.
It has been ten months since their first UK No1 with Map Of The Soul: Persona.
The seven-piece from South Korea are expected to tour this year too.
Taron's moving on up
HIS Golden Globes win this week cemented him as one of Hollywood’s top leading men.
Now Taron Egerton’s got the A-list celebrity pad to match.
The welsh actor snapped up a £3million penthouse at one of London’s poshest new developments.
The complex features its own branch of celebrity haunt Soho House and a private cinema.
Taron, who won Golden Globe Best Actor gong for Elton John biopic Rocketman, will also have access to a stunning pool and sauna, gym with 24-hour personal trainers and a juice bar.
Developers of the luxury pads describe the new building as “a cultural icon and a landmark piece of modern architecture.”
Taron will even be able to escape the city in the “tranquil oasis” of the landscaped garden.
Well, if you’ve got the money, then you might as well spend it...
The next big thing
THE EE Rising Star Bafta nominations are in – and they’re a talented bunch.
Brits Michael Ward, from Blue Story, and Dunkirk’s Jack Lowden go up against Americans Kaitlyn Dever, Awkwafina and Kelvin Harrison JR.
The award for newcomers was won by James McAvoy in 2006 and Tom Hardy in 2011.
bizmeter
- OZZY Osbourne and Elton John have collaborated on a track, believed to be for the Black Sabbath star’s upcoming album Ordinary Man. Speaking on US TV, his wife Sharon said: “There’s new music and it’s great. He’s got all his friends playing on it. He’s doing a song with Elton.”
- Timothee Chalamet is in talks to bring Bob Dylan's life to the big screen. The Little Women and Call Me By Your Name actor is set to play the singer as he rose to fame in the Sixties to become a music icon. The director of the biopic, currently titled Going Electric, is James Mangold, who directed Logan.
- Gwyneth Paltrow claims she loves ex-husband Chris Martin's girlfriend Dakota Johnson and says she’s still close to former squeeze Brad Pitt, who she was briefly engaged to. She told Harper’s Bazaar mag: “I’m friendly with Brad Pitt. I don’t have any really bad blood.”
- Yungblud's split from Halsey last year has inspired new song A Weird Time Of Life, which he says will be on his second album. Looking back over a tough year, he told the BBC: “We blew up all over the world. I fell in love and fell out of love. I nearly lost my mum and I got depressed and I came out of that.”
Doug's 'Flying start
DOUGIE Poynter may have turned his hand to acting but he hasn’t forgotten his musical roots.
The McFly bassist appears in crime thriller The Host, which hits cinemas on Friday next week.
At the premiere in London on Monday night, he said: “Music is my priority and will always be. I have no ambition to ever not be Dougie from McFly. I’m pretty happy with that.
“It’s the best job in the world. I get paid to hang out with my friends.”
He has, however, left behind any desire to drink – having quit booze more than a decade ago.
Dougie, who went into rehab in 2010, said: “I haven’t drunk in so long, it hasn’t crossed my mind. I’m not tempted any more. I like who I am now because of not picking up a glass, it’s changed my life.”
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