Black talent triumphs at Baftas

Black talent  stole the show at the Baftas last night wining three of the most prestigious awards, including  Chiwetel Ejiofor for Best Actor, in 12 Years a Slave,   Barkhad Abdi,  for Best Supporting Actor in Captain Philips, and of course Steve McQueen's spectacular film 12 Years a Slave won the coveted title of Best Film.  

Accepting his award Ejifor turned to the audience and in particular the film’s Director Steve Mc Queen  and said,

"I'm so deeply honoured and privileged, "Thank you Steve for your work, your artistry and your passion in this project … to make it of such value, of such worth. This is yours by the way – I'm going to keep it, that's the kind of guy I am, but it's yours."

Perhaps the big surprise of the night was the Somali-American Barkhad Abdi win’s for best support actor in Captain Phillips. Accepting his award he thanked co-actor in the film Tom Hanks and Paul Greengrass  the film’s  Director :

“ Thank you for believing in me even before I believed in myself.”

Let’s hope that last night’s triumph of Black acting and film making talent no longer have to make the USA bound journey before they are recognized back here in Britain.

Well done guys!

Simon Woolley