Dame Donna Langley Receives BAFTA Fellowship, Touting Decency as 'a Superpower'
Dame Donna Langley received the British Academy’s highest honor, the BAFTA Fellowship, at the BAFTA Film Awards 2026 ceremony in London on Sunday and used her acceptance to emphasize cinema’s power to help people “see each other a little more clearly. ”
Langley, chair of NBCUniversal Entertainment and the first British woman to run a major Hollywood studio, took the stage to a standing ovation; she was born and raised on the Isle of Wight in the U. K. Her speech threaded personal memory and a call for the industry to protect and back talent.
Dame Donna Langley on storytelling, decency and mentorship
“We are … facing moments of change and disruption today, ” Langley said, urging colleagues to keep making popular art that carries into people’s everyday lives. She said that art should “help us understand the world a bit better and to see each other a little more clearly… and reminds us that decency is a superpower. ” Langley added that her parents helped her “see differences as a strength and not a weakness. ”
Praise from filmmakers in the BAFTA reel
Prince William introduced Langley, praising her “determination and commitment, ” and her “strong commitment to inclusion and mentorship. ” A video reel of collaborators followed: Steven Spielberg called her “a peacemaker” and “a dealmaker, a creative rights advocate” and said Langley believes movies and audiences belong in movie theaters, adding that she advocates making movies “out there in the dark. ” Spielberg concluded that her patience “is kind of like the bonding agent. It makes us all feel like, in a way, she’s our security blanket. ”
Christopher Nolan said, “It’s hard to think of a more deserving recipient of a BAFTA Fellowship than Dame Donna Langley, ” and praised her leadership at Universal and her grasp of filmmaking while keeping audiences in mind. Mamma Mia! producer Judy Craymer called Langley “a titan” and “an outlier” who has “created an incredible legacy. ” Working Title Films chairs Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner were also featured in the reel; the provided text of their tribute begins, “You have somebody at the” and then cuts off in the provided context.
Other winners at the BAFTAs and the ceremony highlights
British cinema had a strong night at the 2026 BAFTAs. Robert Aramayo won both best newcomer and best actor; One Battle After Another took home best film; and Hamnet collected multiple accolades with Jessie Buckley winning best actress among them. The ceremony and its highlights were presented in a BAFTA video titled "Watch: Highlights from the Baftas 2026" (Video, 00: 01: 54).
Related video highlights and site note
The BAFTAs highlights video appeared alongside other short video items listed with running times. The provided context included the following pieces:
- Inside press briefing as Trump criticises Supreme Court tariffs ruling. Video, 00: 00: 56
- Giant tortoises return to Galápagos island after nearly 200 years. Video, 00: 00: 31
- Viral monkey Punch rejected by mother given stuffed orangutan. Video, 00: 01: 22
- What happens next for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor? Video, 00: 01: 00
- Watch: The day Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested. Video, 00: 01: 14
- Why haven't more Americans faced charges in the Epstein case? Video, 00: 01: 03
- Watch: Skier tells of 'panic' as avalanche hit Italian slopes. Video, 00: 01: 23
- Lunar New Year 2026: Celebrations around the world. Video, 00: 01: 29
- Flying oranges: Italian town celebrates carnival with historic street battle. Video, 00: 00: 30
- Giant robot tribute to Brazil's President Lula comes last in carnival competition. Video, 00: 01: 12
- Watch: 'I am a survivor' Gisèle Pelicot tells Newsnight. Video, 00: 01: 57
A separate Bafta page in the provided context displayed the title "Just a moment... " and advised readers, "Click here if you are not redirected automatically. " The provided material also included the line, "Copyright © 2026. The is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. "
The Hollywood Reporter material in the provided context carried a subscription prompt, stating "Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. " The ceremony and the Fellowship presentation took place in London on Sunday as described in the provided context.
What comes next is unclear in the provided context.
