Winslet, Slumdog pick up Baftas
Updated on 08 February 2009
Slumdog Millionaire cleaned up at the Baftas with seven gongs including Best Film, while Kate Winslet won the Leading Actress award for The Reader.
The night of British triumphs saw Danny Boyle win the Director prize for Slumdog Millionaire, the rags-to-riches tale set in the slums of Mumbai.
Slumdog has already taken Hollywood by storm and is poised for Oscar success, having received ten nominations.
The Orange British Academy Film Awards saw A-listers including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Sharon Stone, Penelope Cruz, Daniel Craig, Ron Howard and Michael Sheen brave the rain to dazzle on the red carpet.
Appearing breathless, Winslet said in her acceptance speech: "To be given this award at home, this really means a great deal to me.
"Thank you Bafta, thank you. I want to thank everybody involved in the making of this film. They all know who they are and they all deserve a big fat piece of this."
Winslet added: "I want to thank my friends and my family, especially my mum and dad, who I will not look at right now, otherwise I will burst into tears.
"Thank you mum and dad so much for your love and support.
"I want to share this with two producers on this film, I know I'm not alone when I say I can't believe they're no longer with us, Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack.
"You are much missed today, and you will be much missed for many years to come, and this is for you. Thank you. Thank you."
Winslet, who plays a concentration camp guard in The Reader, beat Jolie for Changeling, Kristin Scott Thomas for I've Loved You So Long and Meryl Streep for Doubt.
She also faced stiff competition from herself - having also been nominated in the category for her role in Revolutionary Road, which reunited her with Titanic co-star Leonardo DiCaprio.
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