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'King's Speech' sweeps Baftas

Colin Firth - Paid tribute to co-stars
Colin Firth - Paid tribute to co-stars

Colin Firth won the Leading Actor award as The King's Speech swept the board at the Orange British Academy Film Awards last night.

Take a look at a gallery of the red carpet style here.

The tale of stuttering monarch King George VI scooped seven awards on the night at the Royal Opera House in London.

Speaking as he picked up the Leading Actor award for the second year running, he joked: "I like coming here, thank you Bafta."

Referring to his role in the Abba-inspired Mamma Mia!, Firth thanked his family for "remaining so steady whether they are dealing with a dancing queen or a sometime king".

He also paid tribute to his co-stars, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, who won awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively.

In her acceptance speech, Bonham Carter warned her children "It's not about the winning" and told Firth: "King Colin you're deserving everything you're getting."

The film also picked up awards for Best Film, Original Music, Outstanding British Film and Original Screenplay for its writer, David Seidler.

There was disappointment for the film's director Tom Hooper, who lost out to David Fincher for the Facebook film ‘The Social Network’.

Natalie Portman won the Leading Actress award for her role as a ballet dancer in Black Swan.

The film's director, Darren Aronofsky, accepted the award on her behalf, saying: "She is by far the most committed, dedicated, focused actor I have ever worked with."

The event ended with a standing ovation for veteran actor Sir Christopher Lee.

He accepted the Bafta Fellowship from Tim Burton, who described the 88-year-old as an "electrifying screen presence".

Lee, famous for his roles in dozens of horror films and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, thanked his "fellow thespians" and the Bafta committee.

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