Entertainment

Who were the British winners at the Oscars?

While it was not the best year for British talent, it was an improvement on the previous Academy Awards.
While it was not the best year for British talent, it was an improvement on the previous Academy Awards. While it was not the best year for British talent, it was an improvement on the previous Academy Awards.

There were four British winners at the 90th Academy Awards, an increase of three from last year.

Gary Oldman took the prize for actor in a leading role for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, his first ever Oscar.

Cinematographer Roger Deakins won his first Oscar for his work on Blade Runner 2049, after 13 previous losses.

Former Hollyoaks stars Rachel Shenton and Chris Overton succeeded in the live action short category for their film The Silent Child, about a deaf four-year-old girl who lives in a world of silence until a caring social worker teaches her the gift of communication.

The 90th Academy Awards – Press Room – Los Angeles
The 90th Academy Awards – Press Room – Los Angeles Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton with their Best Live Action Short Film Oscar for The Silent Child (PA/Ian West)

Special effects make-up artist Lucy Sibbick won in the make-up and hair category for Darkest Hour, along with two non-Britons Kazuhiro Tsuji and David Malinowski.

The 90th Academy Awards – Press Room – Los Angeles
The 90th Academy Awards – Press Room – Los Angeles Kazuhiro Tsuji, Lucy Sibbick and David Malinowski with their Best Hair and Makeup Oscar (Ian West/PA)

Last year’s Oscars were the worst for British talent in a decade.

White Helmets, a 40-minute Netflix film about a volunteer rescue group operating in war-torn Syria, saw its British director Orlando von Einsiedel and British producer Joanna Natasegara take the best documentary short award at the event in 2017.

Graham Norton Show – London
Graham Norton Show – London Daniel Kaluuya was up against Gary Oldman in the best actor category (BBC)

Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya, The Shape Of Water’s Sally Hawkins and Phantom Thread’s Lesley Manville were among the British nominees at this year’s ceremony.