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Lady Helen Mirren will lead a special tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II during this year’s Baftas film.
The veteran actor, 77, has portrayed the monarch on the big screen and on stage, winning a Oscar and Bafta for his portrayal in the 2006 biographical drama The Queen.
Bafta Fellow Mirren to lead the Queen’s Commendation at the 76th Annual Film Awards at Southbank Center in London Royal Hall of Festivals Sunday (February 19).
The Queen has had a close association with the Academy that has lasted 50 years and has seen her donate to and support initiatives, as well as attend many events over the years.
In 1972, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh donated profits from the documentary film Royal family to the Society of Film and Television Arts (SFTA), which later became the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta), for a new seat.
The organization’s renaming took place at the official opening of the headquarters in 1976, which was conducted by the Queen, and remains Bafta’s London home five decades later.
During her lifetime, the Queen was a patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Royal Variety Charity and the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund.
In April 2013, the Queen was presented with an honorary Bafta award by Sir Kenneth Branagh To windsor castle for his “tireless support” of the industry.
Helen Mirren in “The Queen”
(Pathe)
The Queen’s grandson, the Prince of Wales, has been chairman of Bafta since 2010.
William and Kate will attend the ceremony for the first time in three years before meeting the Rising Star Award winners and nominees.
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Bafta Chief Executive Jane Millichip said: “It is an absolute pleasure to welcome so many nominees and guests from across the film industry to the EE Bafta Film Awards on Sunday.
“This year’s awards are shaping up to be one of our highest attendances on record, which is a resounding recognition of the importance of UK audiences to the global film industry and of Bafta’s role in catching the attention of the audience on these incredible films and filmmakers.
“Bafta’s 7,500 member industry experts have cast their ballots and I can’t wait to hear which names will be read overnight.”
This year sees Netflix’s anti-war epic In the west, nothing is new leading with 14 nominations – while The Banshees of Inisherinwith Colin Farrell, and Everything everywhere all at oncestarring Michelle Yeoh, follow closely with 10 nominations each.
The EE Bafta Film Awards will air on February 19 at 7 p.m. on BBC One and iPlayer.