Dame Donna Langley: dame donna langley — The Fellowship 2026
dame donna langley received the British Academy’s highest honor, the BAFTA Fellowship, at the BAFTA Film Awards 2026 ceremony in London on Sunday. The NBCU Entertainment chair, the first British woman to run a major Hollywood studio, took the stage to a standing ovation and used her speech to urge the industry to use cinema to help people "see each other more clearly. "
Fellowship and acceptance speech
The top executive, chair of NBCUniversal Entertainment and described in the program as the first British woman to run a major Hollywood studio, was introduced by Prince William. Prince William praised her "determination and commitment, " and her "strong commitment to inclusion and mentorship. " Langley said: "We are … facing moments of change and disruption today. And my hope is that those of us who help tell stories for a living continue to find inspiration to make popular art that carries over into people’s everyday lives — that helps us understand the world a bit better and to see each other a little more clearly… and reminds us that decency is a superpower. " She also told the audience that her parents helped her "see differences as a strength and not a weakness. "
Praise from collaborators and reel
A video reel showed collaborators praising Langley. Steven Spielberg said: "Donna is a peacemaker and she’s a dealmaker, a creative rights advocate, and she’s always on the forward fringe of new business, new technology, new ideas. " Spielberg added: "Donna believes that movies and audiences belong in movie theaters, and she’s an advocate of that… to make movies [for people], as Gloria Swanson said in Sunset Boulevard, out there in the dark. " He concluded: "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 in the reel: "It’s hard to think of a more deserving recipient of a BAFTA Fellowship than Dame Donna Langley. She’s been leading Universal with a very unique blend of filmmaker-friendly creative insights with true leadership that commands respect. " Nolan concluded: "Donna has a grasp of all the different aspects of the filmmaking process but never loses sight of the audience. [She] is so inspiring to work for and collaborate with. " Mamma Mia! producer Judy Craymer called Langley "a titan, " adding: "She’s an outlier. She’s already created an incredible legacy. " Working Title Films chairs and producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner also feted Langley the reel, saying: "You have somebody at the" — unclear in the provided context.
Call to action and background
Langley closed with a call to action: "As we move forward, let’s remember the future of this business is not something that happens to us. It’s something we shape… by the risks we take and the people we back. So, let us continue to adapt, be resilient and make room for new voices. " The Hollywood Reporter page for the story included the phrase "Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter" twice on the page. The piece noted Langley was born and raised on the Isle of Wight in the U. K.
BAFTAs 2026 highlights and winners
Other coverage of the BAFTAs noted a strong night for British cinema: Robert Aramayo took both best newcomer and best actor awards. One Battle After Another won best film. Hamnet also saw success, with Jessie Buckley winning best actress among that film’s accolades.
Related video items and site notes
The BAFTA and news site listings included a number of short video items and their durations: "Watch: Highlights from the Baftas 2026" (00: 01: 54); "Inside press briefing as Trump criticises Supreme Court tariffs ruling" (00: 00: 56); "Giant tortoises return to Galápagos island after nearly 200 years" (00: 00: 31); "Viral monkey Punch rejected by mother given stuffed orangutan" (00: 01: 22); "What happens next for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor?" (00: 01: 00); "Watch: The day Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested" (00: 01: 14); "Why haven't more Americans faced charges in the Epstein case?" (00: 01: 03); "Watch: Skier tells of 'panic' as avalanche hit Italian slopes" (00: 01: 23); "Lunar New Year 2026: Celebrations around the world" (00: 01: 29); "Flying oranges: Italian town celebrates carnival with historic street battle" (00: 00: 30); "Giant robot tribute to Brazil's President Lula comes last in carnival competition" (00: 01: 12); and "Watch: 'I am a survivor' Gisèle Pelicot tells Newsnight" (00: 01: 57). The short site page titled "Just a moment... " displayed the instruction: "Click here if you are not redirected automatically. " The page also carried the notice: "Copyright © 2026. The is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. "
The Hollywood Reporter story referenced other items on its page, including "Related Video Related Stories Movies Netflix Sets Korean Rom-Com 'Messily Ever After' Starring Kim Min-ha and Noh Sang-hyun" and "Movies Tourette's Debate Sparked at BAFTA Film Awards After Campaigner John Davidson Heard Cursing, Shouting Slurs at Presenters. "
In sum, the BAFTA Film Awards 2026 in London on Sunday featured a Fellowship presentation to Dame Donna Langley, high-profile speeches and a slate of winners that included Robert Aramayo, One Battle After Another and Jessie Buckley.
