BAFTA TV Awards Red Carpet: All Your Fave British Actors, Plus Some You Haven’t Heard Of

Lest you be confused with the BAFTAs that were held in February (aka the British Oscars), on Sunday night, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts celebrated the latter half of its name: the small screen. I love TV and I love red carpet fashion, so it really was a perfect evening for me, personally.

The red carpet was chock full of internationally renowned actors, as well as a few faces that may turn heads only in the UK. (Not trying to be snarky, just honest!) There were a variety of dress codes on display, which made me wonder what, if any, guidelines the BAFTAs gave attendees. See for yourself...

Queen Charlotte! That rhinestone breastplate feels like a delightful little nod to her role in a historical fiction TV show (Bridgerton), and the cape adds a sneaky little dash of royalty. And Golda’s smirk is always to die for.

Look, I watch a lot of British television, but there are so many British actors that even my brain, which is particularly attuned to celebrities and their goings on, cannot possibly keep track of all of them. And believe me, if I’d heard of someone with the absolute banger of a name Cush Jumbo, I’d remember her. (She was apparently in The Good Wife, which I watched and enjoyed—but is not a British show.)

Anyway, despite Cush’s amazing name and face, this outfit has far too much going on. The cape and gloves look cheap and costume-y (something about seeing the seams on the gloves is like nails on a chalkboard to me)—and they distract from the really lovely beading on the dress.

Amelia is the host of Chicken Shop Date, wonderful red carpet interviewer, and preeminent Andrew Garfield flirt. I absolutely love this pink velvet number, though the jaguar-head brooch is what really makes this a win in my book.

The co-stars of The Bear look perfectly respectable, if a little tired. Maybe it’s the jet lag?

Horgan’s excellent show Bad Sisters won Best Drama Series, as it should have. In her acceptance speech, Hogan thanked “all our writers,” saying: “It all begins and ends with the writers, so we’re in solidarity to our WGA brothers and sisters.” Hell yeah! I love this dress, which looks fairly simple from far away but has some really excellent details. Plus, the subtle pink highlights are excellent.

The most “we saw you from across the room” vibe I’ve ever seen on a red carpet, and I’m not mad about it. (In case you were wondering, Freeman, 51, and Mariam, 29—who appeared in the BBC’s Normal People adaptation—have been “linked” since 2020.)

Derry Girls’ Sister Michael in a red latex-y dress with pockets?? A dream come true. McSweeney won the BAFTA for Best Female Performance in a Comedy, and apparently the BBC cut her criticism of the government during her acceptance speech from its broadcast. Booooooo.

Billie Piper is an English actress, and this appears to be her audition for Avatar: The Las Vegas Experience. I don’t hate it!

Elliot here is an actor, and his sister Saffron is, I believe, a model. I don’t love a bare chest under a suit (though I do love her bedazzled pumps), but they are both gorgeous and I am very happy for them.

Kate won the Lead Actress BAFTA for her role in I Am Ruth, which I have never heard of but is about a mother watching her teenage daughter decline as she falls prey to social media. Sounds far too topical.

I can’t say I love either her or her daughter Mia’s outfits (though I am always partial to a jumpsuit), but they look like they’re having a blast—at one point on the red carpet, Kate busted out finger guns.

I absolutely love this dress, but it’s really giving “I wasn’t invited to Cannes or the Oscars, so I had to bust out my best for the BAFTAs.” The contrast between this and what Kate Winslet and her daughter wore is hilarious.

Talk about a different vibe... but we love a commitment to the bit. Plus, she looks comfy (or, as comfy as one can be in stiletto sandals).

Ruth was in Years and Years, a well-executed if terrifying show that takes place in a very slightly more dystopian version of our current reality. She’s wonderful, as are both her face and chest fringes here.

Motsi is a South African dancer who’s been a judge on the British and German versions of Strictly Come Dancing (which is basically Dancing With the Stars). Clearly she knows how to command a stage, because the energy in this picture alone makes me want to follow her to the ends of the earth.

Your eyes are deceiving you—that is not Naomi Watts. Eva plays one of Sharon Horgan’s sisters in Bad Sisters, which again, I am plugging. It’s great. She’s great. Go watch it!

The witchiest of vibes. You cannot convince me that Rebecca and Dame Harriet did not concoct a potion backstage—what else are poofy sleeves for if not secretly storing hellbore, sulfur, and a vial of dragon’s blood?

Zainab is an influencer, and I’ve never heard of her before yesterday, but I think I’d die for her now. What a look! What a smile!

AJ is a television personality/host, and I can see why; her energy is palpable. I can’t say I love this dress, but that feels irrelevant, to be honest.

I’m sorry, this just looks like she threw her fanciest sarong over a bathing suit. (For those wondering, it’s pronounced “Neeve.”)

These two (an actor and comedian, respectively) presented at the BAFTAs. Russell was also in Years and Years, and while he looks sharp (and has subtly cool shoes), I really just want to talk about Mawaan’s whole deal. Is it too much? Is it just enough? Who am I to decide? Either way, 10/10 for Mawaan.

Danny Beard won the fourth season of Drag Race UK, which is wholly unsurprising based on this look alone. I am extremely here for drag Cruella de Vil, as long as no puppies were harmed in the making of this outfit.