Day-Lewis tipped for Oscar after Bafta scoop

CO WICKLOW resident Daniel Day-Lewis took the best actor prize at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta’s) last night.

And a little-known French actress, Marion Cotillard, stole the limelight by becoming the surprise winner of the best actress award for her portrayal of singer Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose.

Julie Christie had been odds-on favourite to win for Away From Her and Atonement’s Keira Knightley was not far behind.

But the Bafta judges plumped instead for Cotillard, 33, rewarding a performance which has already earned her a Golden Globe win and an Oscar nomination.

Cotillard is believed to be the first French actress to win the best actress Bafta award.

War drama Atonement claimed the big prize of best film.

However, the lavish adaptation of Ian McEwan’s best selling novel was nominated for 14 awards and came away with just two —– the other for production design.

Day-Lewis, 50, plays oil baron Daniel Plainview in the film There Will Be Blood and is tipped to scoop an Oscar later this month, having already won a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors’ Guild Award.

The Oscars now look set to go ahead after the Writers’ Guild of America reached a “tentative deal” over an end to strike action.

It is the second Bafta for Day-Lewis, who won in 1990 for his performance in My Left Foot.

This time he beat the likes of James McAvoy for Atonement and George Clooney for Michael Clayton.

Jonathan Ross hosted the ceremony from the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden.

La Vie En Rose was the night’s big success story with four awards, also winning gongs for music, costume design and make-up.

The latter was for the remarkable feat of transformation which saw Cotillard play Piaf through her career, from a 19-year-old ingenue to a frail figure who died at 47.

The film’s costume designer, Marit Allen died from a brain aneurysm shortly after finishing La Vie En Rose, aged 66.

Tilda Swinton won best supporting actress for her role as a ruthless corporate lawyer in Michael Clayton.

Presenters included Kate Hudson, Thandie Newton, Sylvester Stallone, Emily Blunt, Orlando Bloom and Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe.