Which actor has won the most Bafta Awards?
When it comes to cinema royalty, the Bafta Awards, Britain’s own glittering night of film and television celebration, has always been an unmissable event. Established by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 1947, the Baftas have long been the cornerstone of recognising the best in cinematic artistry. Think of it as the Oscars with a charming British twist, capturing the heart and spirit of UK filmmaking.
Over the years, these awards have spotlighted a diverse array of talent, from cinematic legends like Sir Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren to modern-day icons like Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. These are the names that, when mentioned, invoke a sense of cinematic brilliance. However, in this luminary landscape, one star has shone exceptionally bright, making history with her numerous Bafta accolades: Dame Judi Dench.
Dench, with her sheer magnetism on screen, has become synonymous with British acting excellence. With a career spanning over six decades, Dench has given us some of the most unforgettable performances, both on stage and screen. In 2022, she was the oldest actor to be nominated for a ‘Best Supporting Actress’ award at the Oscars, so it’s no surprise, then, that she holds the record for the most Bafta wins for an actor.
Dench’s first Bafta win for a film role dates back to 1965, a testament to her longstanding prowess in the industry. That year, she received the ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ award for her role in Four in the Morning. Directed by Anthony Simmons, the film presented a young Dench in a dual narrative of love and tragedy set in London’s Docklands. With her authentic portrayal of a woman grieving the tragic death of her lover, it was clear that Dench was destined for cinematic greatness.
Fast-forward to 1986, when Dench’s commanding talent was honoured again with the ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role’ award for A Room with a View. Directed by James Ivory, the film is an adaptation of E.M. Forster’s novel of the same name. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Florence and Edwardian England, Dench played the role of Eleanor Lavish, a novelist who embodies the free spirit of the era.
Her role as Queen Victoria in the 1997 film Mrs Brown, directed by John Madden, yet again clinched her the ‘Leading Role’ award – her fourth, after previously earning a ‘Supporting Actress’ award for 1988’s A Handful of Dust. Exploring the deep and unconventional bond between Queen Victoria and her Scottish servant, John Brown, after the death of Prince Albert.
In 2001, three years after winning ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’ for Shakespeare In Love, Dench’s powerful performance in Iris saw her receiving the ‘Leading Role’ award – her sixth feature film Bafta. The film charted the life of renowned novelist Iris Murdoch, with Dench portraying her devastating descent into Alzheimer’s. It’s also important to mention that beyond her feature film successes, Dench’s unparalleled skills have also been recognised with an additional six Baftas for her performances on television – truly making her a Bafta legend.
So, who has won the most Bafta awards?
Only three people have ever won five Baftas for film acting, and it’s not a coincidence that each of them is regarded as among the finest talents of their generation, and they’ve all got an Oscar, too.
Peter Finch was the first five-time winner in history, with his posthumous ‘Best Actor in a Leading Role’ statue for Network joining his previous triumph for Sunday Bloody Sunday, while he was a three-time ‘Best British Actor’ winner through A Town Like Alice, The Trials of Oscar Wilde, and No Love for Johnnie.
Maggie Smith also has five, taking home ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role’ for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, A Private Function, A Room with a View, and The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne to go along with a ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’ gong for Tea with Mussolini, in addition to a Bafta Special award and an Academy Fellowship to bring her up to seven all told.
Including television, though, Judi Dench is out in front with ten. A 1965 win for ‘Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles’ was followed by three wins for ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’ and two for ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role’, not forgetting three television wins for ‘Best Actress’, and one for ‘Best Entertainment Performance’.
When are the Baftas?
The Baftas always take place in the weeks prior to the Oscars, with this year’s edition happening on February 18th at the Royal Festival Hall within London’s Southbank Centre.
David Tennant will host the ceremony for the very first time, with the actor “delighted to have been asked to host the EE Bafta Film Awards and help celebrate the very best of this year’s films and the many brilliant people who bring them to life.”
Much like it does at the Oscars, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer leads the way with 13 nominations, followed by Langos Yorthimos’ Poor Things on 11, while Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon and Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest accrued nine apiece.
Where to watch the Baftas?
As is the case every year, the Baftas are available to watch on a myriad of different platforms around the world, with viewers in various nations having different means to catch the winners being read out.
In the United Kingdom, the Baftas will air live on BBC One and be streamed on iPlayer, while in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Norway, South Africa, and Sweden, it streams on BritBox International.
