‘The Shape of Water’ leads this year’s British Academy of Film & Television Award nominations, with 12 nods in total. The fantasy romance stars British actress Sally Hawkins as a janitor who forms a relationship with an amphibious creature being held in captivity. ‘Darkest Hour’ and ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ both received nine nominations. Gary Oldman, Jamie Bell and Daniel Kaluuya are among the British nominees – all recognised for best actor. Hawkins and Irish actress Saoirse Ronan are among those nominated for best leading actress. They face competition from Frances McDormand for Three Billboards, and Margot Robbie, who is nominated for her portrayal of controversial Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya. Call Me by Your Name, Darkest Hour, Dunkirk and Three Billboards are nominated alongside The Shape of Water for best film. Three Billboards and Darkest Hour are also up for outstanding British film, along with Paddington 2, Lady Macbeth, God’s Own Country and The Death of Stalin. Paddington 2 has three nominations in total – including adapted screenplay and a best supporting actor nod for Hugh Grant. His competition includes Christopher Plummer, who replaced Kevin Spacey at the last minute in All The Money In The World. That category also includes Willem Dafoe for The Florida Project, and Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson, who are both nominated for Three Billboards. The nominees for supporting actress include Allison Janney for her portrayal of Tonya Harding’s mother in I, Tonya. The actress, best known for her role in The West Wing, won best supporting actress at Sunday night’s Golden Globes. She faces Kristin Scott Thomas, Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird), Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) and Octavia Spencer (The Shape Of Water). The most notable omissions include The Post, starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, which didn’t receive any nominations. The Disaster Artist didn’t pick up any nominations, despite James Franco’s win for best actor in a comedy or musical at Sunday’s Golden Globes for his role in the film. Gary Oldman, Jamie Bell and Daniel Kaluuya are among the British nominees — all recognised for best actor Dame Judi Dench also missed out for her role in Victoria and Abdul despite her Globes nod. The Leisure Seeker, which scored a nomination for Dame Helen Mirren at the Globes, wasn’t eligible for this year’s Baftas. The nominations for Three Billboards follow its success at the Globes, where it picked up four prizes including best drama film. Sally Hawkins is among Britain’s leading contenders for the Oscars, and she told the BBC she was “incredibly humbled” by her Bafta nomination for best actress. “It feels like a gift from my homeland and I am very touched by it,” she said. “I believe this is an important film and it is a deep, deep part of my heart. So to be honoured and recognised in such a way… is a gift.” Kristin Scott Thomas said receiving the fifth Bafta nomination of her career – for playing Sir Winston Churchill’s wife Clementine in Darkest Hour – was “completely thrilling”. She told BBC News: “It’s particularly thrilling because of the film itself, which I’m so proud to be in, and the fact that it’s putting Clemmie in the spotlight a little bit, which is great, because I think she deserves a lot more attention.” She said she wasn’t yet sure whether guests at the ceremony on 18 February would wear black as a mark of solidarity with victims of sexual assault and harassment, as they did at Sunday’s Golden Globes. “I think that is a decision we will make as a group of women,” she said. “Somebody will come up with an idea and I’m ready to support any decision that is made about making statements.” She added that the film industry was at a “turning point” and she would “absolutely participate” in any idea to bring attention to such issues. Gary Oldman, who plays Churchill, told the BBC: “This is my third Bafta nomination as an actor; the recognition means so much. “Especially more so not merely for the distinguished company I now find myself in with my fellow nominees, but most especially for the privilege of playing Winston Churchill, which it truly was.” Greta Gerwig, whose script for Lady Bird is nominated for best original screenplay, said: “I’ve always wanted to be a writer and director, and I could not be more happy that I’ve been able to do it and that it has been received with such love.” She added: “I am thrilled for Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf – they are both such extraordinary actresses, and they are deserving of every accolade.” This year’s Bafta ceremony will take place at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Joanna Lumley will host, replacing Stephen Fry after he announced he’d be stepping down. The nominations for the EE Rising Star category were announced last week. Published in Daily Times, January 11th 2018.