Donna Langley: donna langley Honoured at BAFTAs 2026
Dame Donna Langley was presented with a BAFTA Fellowship at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards in London, an evening that also saw Robert Aramayo win both best newcomer and best actor. donna langley received the prize in a ceremony that included a wide range of winners and tributes.
Fellowship presented by Prince William
The Fellowship prize was handed to Dame Donna Langley by Prince William. He hailed her “tireless” advocacy for British storytelling and her championing of movies that have “shaped culture. ” The ceremony took place at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London.
Donna Langley’s acceptance speech
In her remarks to the audience Langley said: “We are facing moments of change and disruption today. 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 continued: “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 studio vet added: “As my career has progressed, I’ve come to believe that the most meaningful part of what we do is the people we choose to support along the way. The voices we encourage. And the talent we protect…long enough for them to find their feet. And the doors we remember to open. ”
Tributes from Spielberg and Nolan
A video reel shown to the audience included tributes from filmmakers Langley has worked with. 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…Donna believes that movies and audiences belong in movie theatres and she’s an advocate of that…. to make movies that, as Gloria Swanson said in Sunset Boulevard, out there in the dark…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 commented: “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…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. ”
BAFTA recognition and films cited
BAFTA said it was honoring Langley’s “transformative leadership in the face of rapid change and disruption” at NBCUniversal Entertainment, recognizing her role in films including Oppenheimer, Bridget Jones, and Straight Outta Compton. Langley is identified as NBCUniversal Entertainment’s chairman and as the first British woman to run a major Hollywood studio.
The full list of winners is here. Alan Cumming hosted the ceremony for the first time. Previous BAFTA fellows named at the event include Dame Helen Mirren, Sidney Poitier, Mel Brooks, Sir Ridley Scott, Thelma Schoonmaker, Kathleen Kennedy, and Ang Lee. The most recent recipient of the BAFTA Fellowship was Warwick Davis last year at the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards.
BAFTAs winners and highlights
Robert Aramayo crowned a strong night for British cinema at the 2026 BAFTAs by taking both best newcomer and best actor awards. One Battle After Another took home best film. Hamnet also saw success, with Jessie Buckley winning best actress among its accolades.
Related video highlights and clips
Highlights and related clips shown alongside the ceremony included a video titled "Watch: Highlights from the Baftas 2026" with a runtime of 00: 01: 54. Other listed video items and run times included: "What the killing of drug lord 'El Mencho' means for Mexico. " 00: 01: 07; "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; and "Flying oranges: Italian town celebrates carnival with historic street battle. " 00: 00: 30.
On one site the short message "Just a moment... " appeared with the instruction: "Click here if you are not redirected automatically. "
Donna Langley’s Fellowship became a focal point of a ceremony that combined industry tributes, major acting and film awards, an opening host role for Alan Cumming, and a program of brief video items and highlights tied to the night.
