BAFTAs 2013: Best speeches

Daniel Day-Lewis for ‘Lincoln’ – Best Actor

The multi-Oscar winner made fun of his notorious devotion to method acting with a charmingly self-deprecating speech.

"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, thank you BAFTA. On the chance that I might one day have to speak on an evening such as this, I have actually stayed in character as myself for the last 55 years, and I had a selection of BAFTA sets dating from the 1950s down-scaled and placed in every room of every house I've ever lived in. Every time I rise from a chair it spontaneously releases a burst of applause, some boos and some drunken heckling.”

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Ben Affleck for ‘Argo’ – Best Director

Affleck rattled his way through a genuinely humble speech that acknowledged the fact that: yes, he was once in ‘Daredevil’, but now he’s an award-laden actor/producer/director.

“This is a second act for me, this industry has given me that, and I'm so thankful and so proud. So I want to dedicate this to anyone out there who is trying to get their second act, because you can do it."

Christoph Waltz for ‘Django Unchained’ – Best Supporting Actor

Waltz, quite possibly on purpose, doesn’t usually make sense when he’s talking about himself in front of an audience. However this speech, essentially a tribute to Quentin Tarantino, finished with a great gag that referenced one of his own lines from ‘Django’.

“Why I get to stand here is really no mystery, because it says at the very beginning of our movie, ‘Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino’ but of course I want to thank Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio and the rest. But it all starts and ends with Quentin. But really, beyond everything I need and want to thank you for most of all is the trust that I will put your creation to good use, you silver-penned devil you!"

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Bart Layton for ‘The Imposter’ – Outstanding debut by a British writer, producer or director

The cool thing about award shows is that occasionally Hollywood A-listers share the stage with unknown and incredibly grateful unknowns. For example Bart, the director of superb doc ‘The Imposter’, who equates a shared toilet experience with scooping a major award.

"First I had a pee next to Samuel L. Jackson and now this! I don't think we ever imagined that this amazing journey was going to lead us to be in this room doing some shaky public speaking in front of so many of our heroes.”

Anne Hathaway for ‘Les Miserable’ – Best Supporting Actress

You’d thought Hathaway would be used to picking up awards by now for her small-but-mesmerising ‘Les Mis’ role, but she seemed a bit nervous on stage. She still had the composure to make a joke about Eddie Redmayne’s food poisoning though.

“What am I thinking, I almost walked past George Clooney without hugging him. That’s just stupid. I’m overwhelmed, I’m coming down with laryngitis. [Then, after thanking cast and crew] Oh and Eddie! I’d be holding your hair back but, y’know, [gestures to award]. Guess that shows what sort of friend I am… food poisoning is just the worst.”