Timothée Chalamet Caught Texting During BAFTAs, Ignoring Host’s Plea
London – The glittering world of cinema descended upon London’s Royal Festival Hall for the prestigious BAFTA Awards, but not everyone was glued to the proceedings. Hollywood heartthrob Timothée Chalamet, despite a nomination for Leading Actor in Marty Supreme, was spotted engrossed in his mobile phone, seemingly oblivious to the ceremony unfolding around him. This occurred shortly after host Alan Cumming playfully instructed the audience to “turn off all electronic devices,” adding a humorous exemption for pacemakers and “ozempic alarms.”
The 30-year-old actor, looking remarkably cheerful, took his seat beside his girlfriend, billionaire make-up mogul Kylie Jenner. While Jenner, who opted to skip the red carpet to allow Chalamet his moment in the spotlight, stunned in a plunging black gown adorned with silver jewelled detailing, Chalamet’s attention appeared to be elsewhere. He was observed receiving and reading multiple messages from a friend, even being shown a meme of himself sporting the vibrant orange suit he wore to the Marty Supreme premiere back in December. He later continued scrolling through his iMessages while engaged in conversation with Jenner, highlighting a seemingly relaxed, albeit distracted, approach to the prestigious event.
Despite the apparent disinterest, the couple presented a united front, holding hands after settling into their seats. Sources close to the couple suggest their relationship is going from strength to strength, with the pair having been together for over three years, living together, and even reportedly considering marriage.
A Night of Stars and Cinematic Tributes
The BAFTA ceremony, hosted by the effervescent Alan Cumming, was set to honour the year’s most significant cinematic achievements. A constellation of stars graced the event, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jacob Elordi, and Michael B. Jordan. The red carpet buzzed with excitement, featuring a DJ set by Magic FM presenter Neev Spencer, with Clara Amfo and Ali Plumb providing live reports from the iconic London venue.
A formidable lineup of guest presenters added to the glamour, with Aimee Lou Wood, Alicia Vikander, Cillian Murphy, Ethan Hawke, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Sadie Sink, and British grime artist Stormzy all taking to the stage. The Royal Festival Hall’s stage also welcomed esteemed guests such as Kerry Washington, Minnie Driver, Monica Bellucci, Patrick Dempsey, and Regé-Jean Page.
Diverse Entertainment and Special Honours
The night’s entertainment promised a vibrant tapestry of performances. Notably, KPop sensation Demon Hunters, featuring JAE, AUDREYNUNA & REI AMI, delivered a captivating rendition of their record-breaking track “Golden,” marking their first performance outside the United States.
Adding a touch of poignant reflection, British singer Jessie Ware performed a moving tribute, covering a Barbara Streisand classic during the In Memoriam segment.
The ceremony also recognised significant contributions to the arts. Dame Donna Langley was bestowed with the BAFTA Fellowship, the highest honour awarded by the arts charity, celebrating her influential career as the British Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment and her standing as a respected figure in the industry. Furthermore, Clare Binns, Creative Director of Picture House Cinemas, received the BAFTA Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award, acknowledging her pivotal role in championing diverse and independent films across the UK.
The Contenders: A Fierce Competition for Golden Statuettes
The competition for this year’s awards was particularly fierce, with several films dominating the nominations. Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest work, One Battle After Another, led the pack with an impressive fourteen nominations. However, it faced formidable rivals in the supernatural horror Sinners, which garnered thirteen nominations, and Chloé Zhao’s poignant drama Hamnet, a moving exploration of Shakespeare’s son’s death, securing eleven nominations.
Hamnet, adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel, etched its name in BAFTA history by securing the most nominations for a film directed by a woman. Irish actress Jessie Buckley earned a Lead Actress nomination for her powerful performance in the film, adding to her already impressive accolades, including a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award, and Academy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. Her co-star, Paul Mescal, who narrowly missed out on an Oscar nomination, was also in contention for a Supporting Actor BAFTA nod.
Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet, was a strong contender with eleven BAFTA nominations, including Best Film and Best Actor. The film had already enjoyed success at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, making it a strong favourite. Other films vying for accolades included Frankenstein and Sentimental Value, each with eight nominations, followed by I Swear and Bugonia with five. The Ballad of Wallis Island, Pillion, and F1 each received three nominations.
The race for Leading Actress was also hotly contested, with nominees including Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, and Emma Stone for Bugonia. Leonardo DiCaprio was also a notable nominee for Leading Actor for his performance in the highly decorated One Battle After Another, marking his seventh nomination and a potential second BAFTA win.
