Blackout on the Bafta red carpet as Saoirse misses out on award

Saoirse Ronan arrives for the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Albert Hall in London. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Kerri-Ann Roper and Joe Nerssessian

February 19 2018 2:30 AM

Saoirse Ronan went home empty-handed last night after she lost out on the Best Actress Bafta to Frances McDormand.

The two actresses will be pitted against one another yet again at the Academy Awards next month with both in the running for the Best Actress Oscar.

McDormand won for her star-turn in 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri'. The Martin McDonagh film collected five awards in London last night, including for best film, best original screenplay and best supporting actor.

However, McDonagh lost out in the best director category to Guillermo Del Toro, who won for 'The Shape of Water'.

Ronan was nominated for her role in Greta Gerwig's coming-of-age story 'Lady Bird'. She has received her third Oscar nomination for the performance.

Like her fellow stars, Ronan wore black in recognition of the Time's Up campaign for gender equality in the film industry.

Caitriona Balfe attending the EE British Academy Film Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, Kensington, London. Photo: PA

Speaking to RTÉ on the red carpet, she said: "I think it's only the beginning of it, but I think it's a positive thing that we're celebrating supporting one another and listening to one another and encouraging people to speak openly and share their stories is great, so it's a good thing."

Read more: BAFTAs 2018 winners: Saoirse Ronan loses out on Best Actress to Frances McDormand as Three Billboards wins five gongs

McDonagh also supported the campaign by wearing a Time's Up badge. He said: "The only thing I can do apart from making sure our films are completely safe, which is what we all do anyway, is try to write strong female parts. That is the only job I've got proper control over and that is what we have done.

"I'm really happy a film like this with a performance as strong as Frances's is getting out there this year, it's a great statement for the Time's Up era and we made it a year and a half ago."

Meanwhile, 'Harry Potter' actress Emma Watson has made a £1m (€1.13m) donation to a new fund that will help provide support for those affected by sexual harassment. Tom Hiddleston and Keira Knightley are among the names listed on the GoFundMe page as having donated £10,000.