Amanda Bolden
Britain’s Got Talent star turns on the style at last night’s TV Baftas
BY NICOLA METHVEN & KELLY ALLEN NETFLIX last night won its first TV Bafta when Vanessa Kirby collected the Best Supporting Actress gong for her role in The Crown.
The hit show was beaten in the Best Drama Series category by the BBC’s Peaky Blinders. But Vanessa, 30, made history for the streaming service, taking the honour for her role as Princess Margaret.
She said: “I felt like the luckiest person in the world to be playing someone so colourful, vibrant, brave and strong.
“This is for Margaret, wherever she is.”
She also praised her co-star Claire Foy, 34. who played the Queen, describing her as “the best sister in the world” before hastily adding, “apart from my real one”.
Last year, The Crown was nominated in four categories but came away empty-handed.
Before the ceremony, Foy said she was proud that the “embarrassing” revelation that she had earned less than Matt Smith, 35, who played Prince Philip, had helped others.
Foy, nominated for the Leading Actress award, said: “I’ve spoken to people whose pay has gone up as a direct result of what I earn being put everywhere.
“My shame or embarrassment of people talking about my worth and how much I earn is nothing compared to the fact that then if people are now aware,
Leading Actor: Sean Bean, Broken, BBC1 Leading Actress: Molly Windsor, Three Girls, BBC1. Drama Series: Peaky Blinders (pictured), BBC2 Entertainment: BGT, ITV Soap/Continuing Drama: Casualty, BBC1 Supporting Actor: Brian F O’Byrne, Little Boy Blue, ITV Supporting Actress: Vanessa Kirby, The Crown, Netflix Comedy Entertainment: Murder in Successville, BBC3 Entertainment Performance: Graham Norton, BBC1
people are not going to be able to make those mistakes again or make those decisions again. “If that’s what’s good and comes out of it, then I am very proud of it.” Host Sue Perkins, 48, joked about gender equality as she opened the ceremony in London. She said: “It would be crass and inappropriate to discuss my fee, so let’s just say I’m going to be putting in half the effort.” She hailed the casting of Jodie Whittaker as the first female Doctor Who with a jibe about Harvey Weinstein. Perkins added: “If anyone has experience of fighting off a grotesque monster, it’s an actress.” The Bafta for best mini-series went to Three Girls, the drama about the Rochdale child sex abuse scandal. Writer Nicole Taylor dedicated the prize to health worker Sara Rowbotham and former detective Maggie Oliver, who exposed the abuse. She said: “To all the Maggies and Saras who lost your careers and nearly lost your minds trying to get your voices heard, thank you, this is for you.” Best Features award went to Channel 5’s Cruising with Jane McDonald. Jane, 55, said: “Mum, look what I’m bringing home.” BBC commentator John Motson, 72, picked up a Special Award for his “outstanding contribution to sports broadcasting”. Collecting his gong, he said: “I wish I could have had the whole Match of the Day team here with me.”