MERYL STREEP AND THE ARTIST TRIUMPH AT BAFTA AWARDS
SILENT film The Artist was the big winner at last night’s 56th annual Bafta awards, taking home seven of the 12 gongs it was nominated for, including best film. Its leading man Jean Dujardin (above left with the film’s producer Thomas Langmann, centre) was named best actor at the ceremony, which was held at London’s Royal Opera House, while Michel Hazanavicius (above right) took home best director. Academy award favourite Meryl Streep (inset) won best actress for her role as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. Though British star Gary Oldman lost out on the best actor prize for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the film’s co-writers Peter Straughan and his late wife Bridget O’Connor picked up best adapted screenplay for their interpretation of the classic John le Carré story.