Bafta awards bonanza

The script was rejected by the BBC and Channel 4 but on Sunday night The King's Speech stole the show at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) awards.

It won best film and star Colin Firth took the accolade for best actor. There were cheers as he collected his award, which he dedicated to his wife Livia and their children.

Best actress went to Natalie Portman for her portrayal of the harrowing descent of a prima ballerina into psychosis in Black Swan, but the heavily pregnant star was unable to collect her award.

The King's Speech, which cost £8 million (Dh47 million) to make, was nominated for a record 14 Baftas but won seven, including outstanding British film, best supporting actress for Helena Bonham Carter, and best supporting actor for Geoffrey Rush.

This makes it the joint second most successful film in the history of the film awards, behind Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid and joint with Slumdog Millionaire.

The film has been an unexpected international hit, while Firth has received critical acclaim for his portrayal of King George VI in the run-up to the abdication crisis and his struggle to master a speech impediment.

He plays a man thrust into power and desperately trying to cope with a crippling stammer by working with speech therapist Lionel Logue, played by Rush.

Firth, 50, who was also named Bafta's best actor last year for A Single Man, is the first star to achieve the feat since Rod Steiger won back-to-back Baftas for The Pawnbroker in 1967 and In The Heat Of The Night in 1968.

Bonham Carter has also received a string of plaudits for her portrayal of the late Queen Mother.

On accepting her best supporting actress accolade, she said: "I am thrilled. I think I should thank the Royal Family as they have done wonders for my career." She dedicated the award to her husband, American film director Tim Burton, hailing him as a ‘genius', and also all ‘supporting wives all over the world'.

Queen moved by film

It is understood she and producers received a note from the Queen telling them she was ‘moved' by the film and the 44-year-old's portrayal of her mother. The film's writer David Seidel, who had a stutter when he was a child, won the award for best original screenplay.

Spoken He told the star-packed audience at the Royal Opera House in London: "It is amazing that this little film with two men in a room has spoken to the world. Let me tell you that as a little boy who stuttered and stammered — to be heard is a wonderful thing."

The film has already made £150 million worldwide and is expected to become the most successful independent UK film yet. But there was no award for its director, Tom Hooper. Instead the best directing honour went to David Fincher for The Social Network, about the creation of Facebook.

Emma Watson, looking stylish in a cream chiffon gown by Valentino, was among those with something to celebrate when the Harry Potter film franchise was honoured for its outstanding contribution to British cinema. Stephen Fry, who presented the accolade, said: "The Harry Potter series has shown British film making in its best light."

British director Christopher Nolan's film Inception, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio, picked up awards for best sound, best production design and best special visual effects.

Actor Tom Hardy won the rising star award, beating Gemma Arterton and Andrew Garfield, while Sir Christopher Lee was awarded the prestigious Bafta fellowship.