Stephen Graham is the proud owner of a BAFTA acting award for the first time.
The celebrated British performer has been nominated on eight occasions across the BAFTA Film and TV Awards, but tonight was the first time he has taken home a famous bronze mask.
Graham won the Leading Actor prize at the BAFTA TV Awards for his portrayal of Eddie Miller in the Netflix series Adolescence. In doing so, he beat competition from fellow nominees including Colin Firth (Lockerbie: A Search for Truth), Matt Smith (The Death of Bunny Munro), and Taron Egerton (Smoke).
Graham noted the achievement in his acceptance speech. “I’ve been nominated eight times, this is the first time I’ve won,” he told the audience. The actor was so overwhelmed, he broke a promise to himself not to swear on stage. “No matter where you’re from, anything is possible,” he said, before signing off: “In the words of The Beatles, alls [sic] we need is love.”
It follows a triumphant awards season for Graham. He won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the Primetime Emmys, as well as the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
Such is the longevity and quality of Graham’s output, the fact that Adolescence has delivered his first BAFTA acting prize will come as a surprise to some. His first nomination came in 2013 for Accused, while his turns in This Is England ’90, Save Me, Boiling Point, and Time also garnered nominations.
The BAFTA TV Awards were hosted by Taskmaster presenter Greg Davies at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The full list of winners is here. It was BAFTA’s first televised event since the Film Awards, which will be remembered for broadcasting Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson’s racial slurs.
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