5 Moments Everyone Is Talking About From The BAFTAs 2018

This article originally appeared on InStyle.co.uk

#AskHerMore Actually Happened IRL...

The traditional red carpet exclamations of 'You look Amazing,' or chit chat of 'Who are you wearing' were barely heard. We're not saying we're against telling a woman she does indeed look amazing, or asking her about what she is wearing but finally the social media hashtag of #AskHerMore is beginning to come true too. Yes BBC red carpet host Edith Bowman told Gwen Davis, one of the 187 women who, in June 1968, staged a three-week walk-out from Ford's Dagenham plant when they learned they were paid 15 per cent less than their male counterparts, that she looked "stunning" but she also shared for the first time the fact that she had negotiated equal pay with her male co-presenter, Dermot O'Leary. Westworld's Tessa Thompson spoke of the importance of the Time’s Up movement in fighting “not just gross abuses of power but imbalances of power”. Florence Pugh talked through her next project, King Lear while Andrea Riseborough called out the fact that “you are more likely to see an alien on screen than an Asian woman”.

Kate Middleton's Is She/ Isn't She Debate... 

The Duchess of Cambridge eschewed the unofficial all-black dress code in favour of a dark green Jenny Packham gown. Technically, the Royal family cannot make any political statements so it's not surprising that Middleton didn't don an all black look. However, by teaming her dress with a black ribbon and black clutch bag many people began speculating on social media that she was in fact, supporting the #MeToo movement.

Activists as dates... 

Rather than putting themselves on the arm of a man, many actors opted to bring a female activist along as their date instead. Andrea Riseborough was accompanied by Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, the co-founder of UK Black Pride, Gemma Chan brought along Laura Bate, founder of the Everyday Sexism project, Naomie Harris was with Guardian columnist Afua Hirsch whilst Gemma Arterton was accompanied by Eileen Pullen and Gwen Davis, two of the “Dagenham girls” whose stand for equal rights helped usher in the 1970 Equal Pay Act.

Sartorial sensibility...

Ask anyone in London at the moment how they are and they'll most likely reply 'Bloody freezing.' So it was a refreshing surprise to see many BAFTA attendees opting for a bit more satorial sensibility on the red carpet. Saoirse Ronan wore a polo neck dress from Chanel, Ruth Wilson opted for a suit from Christian Dior whilst sleeves seem to be trending. Natalie Dormer’s Alberta Ferretti gown had black chiffon sleeves, Riseborough's Elie Saab dress featured lace sleeves, whilst Salma Hayek's Gucci dress had embellished cuffs. Goosebumps be gone!

Daniel Kaluuya Thanking His Mum...

Having been crowned BAFTAs Rising Star by the public, Kaluuya took the stage but promptly forgot the words to his acceptance speech. "I've gone blank," he laughed. "Thank you, Tessa [Thompson], Tim [Chalamet], Josh [O'Connor] and Florence [Pugh]. I feel so privileged to be in your guys' company," he said of the other nominees. However, he then noticed the BAFTA timer on countdown. "There's a countdown - I wasn't supposed to say that, but I've said it now. We break all the rules!"

"I am a product of arts funding in the UK," he continued. "I want to thank people who support that, mainstream arts and grass roots levels. Thank you for letting me think different," he added, before thanking his mother. "Mum - you're the reason why I started, why I'm here, you're the reason I keep going. This is yours. Love peace let's get it.” Anyone else feeling a bit teary?