Saoirse Ronan, Hugh Grant Lead BAFTA Nominations Amid Surprise Snubs

LONDON, UK — Saoirse Ronan and Hugh Grant have emerged as standout nominees for the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards, while industry veterans like Denzel Washington and Daniel Craig faced surprising snubs. The nominations, announced Thursday, highlight a mix of fresh talent and seasoned performers in a highly competitive awards season.

Ronan earned a Best Actress nod for her role in *The Outrun*, where she portrays a young alcoholic returning to her Scottish roots. The nomination marks a significant boost for her awards campaign after missing out on recognition at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards. Meanwhile, Hugh Grant received a Best Actor nomination for his chilling performance in the horror film *Heretic*, where he plays a manipulative man who entraps two Mormon missionaries.

However, the absence of Denzel Washington from the Best Supporting Actor category raised eyebrows. Despite a storied career and nine Oscar nominations, Washington has never been nominated for a BAFTA. His role in *Gladiator II* failed to secure a spot, with the category instead featuring newcomers like Yura Borisov (*Anora*) and Clarence Maclin (*Sing Sing*), alongside established names such as Edward Norton (*A Complete Unknown*) and Kieran Culkin (*A Real Pain*).

Daniel Craig, another notable omission, was overlooked for his transformative role in *Queer*, a divisive adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novella. The film’s hallucinogenic sequences polarized audiences, potentially contributing to its lack of traction this awards season.

Leading the pack with 12 nominations is *Conclave*, a papal thriller directed by Edward Berger. The film, which explores the election of a new pope, is closely followed by *Emilia Pérez*, a Spanish-language musical about a cartel leader’s gender transition, with 11 nods. Karla Sofía Gascón, the star of *Emilia Pérez*, made history as the first trans actress to receive a BAFTA nomination.

BAFTA chair Sara Putt emphasized the diversity of this year’s nominees, noting that 14 of the 24 acting nominees are first-timers. “It’s a very competitive year,” Putt said. “It’s also a very open year – nobody’s calling it.”

The awards ceremony, set for February 16, will be hosted by David Tennant and is expected to set the stage for the upcoming Oscars in March.