Molly Windsor beats Claire Foy and Thandie Newton at TV Baftas
Three Girls won two prizes at the star-studded ceremony.
Up-and-coming actress Molly Windsor has beaten Hollywood heavyweights Claire Foy and Thandie Newton for the leading actress prize at the TV Baftas.
Windsor, 20, triumphed for her role Three Girls, a drama about the Rochdale child sex abuse scandal, which also won the best mini-series prize at the ceremony.
It told the harrowing story of the children who were groomed, sexually abused and trafficked by British Pakistani men in Rochdale.
Also in the running in the category was Sinead Keenan, who received a nod for playing the mother of Rhys Jones in Little Boy Blue.
Collecting the prize from Sherlock star Martin Freeman, Windsor said: “Three Girls was born out of the courage of the real three girls, and the real Holly, Amber and Ruby, who told their story over and over and over and told it again to us.
Foy’s co-star Vanessa Kirby triumphed in the supporting actress category for her portrayal of Princess Margaret, giving streaming service Netflix its first TV Bafta.
Collecting her prize, Kirby said: “I just felt like the luckiest person in the world to get to play a character who was so colourful, vivid, brave and strong.
“This is for Margaret, wherever she is.”
Host Sue Perkins opened the ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall by joking about the gender pay gap.
Alluding to the raft of sexual harassment allegations made against high profile figures in the TV and film industry, the comedian hailed the casting of Jodie Whittaker as the first female Doctor Who, saying: “I think Jodie is the perfect choice…if anyone has experience fighting off grotesque monsters, it’s an actress.”
BBC Three comedy This Country picked up two gongs at the ceremony, with star Daisy May Cooper landing the female performance in a comedy programme prize, while the show won the scripted comedy award.
ITV2 dating show Love Island scored a Bafta in the reality and constructed factual category but it was defeated by Blue Planet II for the Virgin TV must-see moment prize.
Collecting it on stage, Sir David Attenborough said: “I speak for all of us when I say we set out to try and show the seas, the oceans for what they are, their beauty, their wonder, their splendour and intricacy but also the truth about what we are doing to them.
“And the fact that one particular moment rang a bell in the minds and consciousness of people in this country is something that pleases all of us more than I can say.”
Standing at the podium with the gong, he said: “I’m normally quite used to picking up trophies but I don’t have to speak after.
“It’s been quite a crazy whirlwind experience, I didn’t do this for any other reason than my three kids.
“The worst thing to come out of this is I get quite emotional now but it’s allowed me to speak and show vulnerability that people aren’t used to because as a sportsman you’re built up to be indestructible.”
He described the documentary as a “snapshot of that time of sadness”, but said it has helped him heal.
Peaky Blinders was named the winner of the drama series category, while
Murder In Successville won the Bafta for comedy entertainment programme, Britain’s Got Talent won entertainment programme and Casualty was named best soap and continuing drama.
He dedicated the award in memory of the late Rhys Jones, whose father Steve he played in the ITV series, and also thanked the city of Liverpool for embracing the story.
She took to the stage with her left wrist in a red sling, explaining it was due to “an accident in a pothole in a pavement”.
Speaking about the importance of reporting, she said: “It’s essential in a democracy, we tell truth to power.
“We tell it like it is and in these times that is more important than ever.”
After Adie departed the stage, Perkins said: “You don’t get disaster zone reporting like that any more, not unless it’s Olly Murs trapped in Selfridges.”
