Leonardo DiCaprio scoops top BAFTA award

Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance as a revenge-seeking fur trapper in The Revenant won him best actor at BAFTA where the film dominated by bagging the best picture and director trophies.

Indo-British director Asif Kapadia’s critically acclaimed documentary Amy on the late British songstress Amy Winehouse won the best documentary award at the British awards ceremony, hosted by Stephen Fry.

DiCaprio, who is the front-runner to win the best actor trophy at Oscars this year for his physically-gruelling performance in the Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s film, was previously nominated for The Aviator, The Departed and most recently The Wolf of Wall Street.

The Revenant, based on the true-story of a 19th century fur trapper, who survived despite being mauled by a bear and abandoned for dead by his friends, won five major awards at the ceremony, while Carolhad to return empty handed despite maximum nominations.

In his acceptance speech, DiCaprio paid tribute to British actors like Gary Oldman, Peter O’Toole and Daniel Day Lewis for influencing him as a performer. He also thanked his mother for helping him.

Inarritu, who swept the Oscars last year with “The Birdman” and a favourite this year as well, said the film’s success at the BAFTA awards was overwhelming.

Brie Larson won the best actress Bafta for her poignant portrayal of a woman kidnapped and kept in a small room with her child in “Room”. Her trophy was accepted by the film’s director.

George Miller’s apocalyptic action movie “Mad Max: Fury Road” won four Baftas for hair and make up, editing, costume design and production design.

Both supporting acting prizes went to British winners.

DiCaprio’s Titanic co-star Kate Winslet won her third BAFTA trophy for her role as an Apple marketing executive Joanna Hoffman in Steve Jobs. Her previous wins were for Sense and Sensibility and The Reader.