Maureen Lipman Attacks BAFTA “Numbskulls” Over Gender-Neutral Award Engravings

Jake Kanter
·1 min read
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Dame Maureen Lipman, star of films including The Pianist and Educating Rita, has hit out at BAFTA over its decision to offer award-winners gender-neutral prizes.

Writing in The Spectator magazine, Lipman branded BAFTA “Dafta” after winners were given the option to have “performer” engraved on their mask plaque as opposed to actor or actress.

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BAFTA has had the policy in place for a number of years, but it was spotlighted last week in The Times after longlists were published for the film awards.

BAFTA continues to have best actor and actress categories, meaning there is no change in how its awards are presented to winners.

Lipman wrote a diary piece in The Spectator about watching The Graduate. “Was there ever a better directed movie or, in Anne Bancroft, a sexier, darker, more restrained actress?” she asked.

Lipman added: “Yes, you heard me: actress, you numbskulls at Bafta. Not a ‘performer’, as you now label us. Thanks, but I’m not a gymnast or a juggler – I’m an actress, and proud of it. Perhaps the organisation itself should be renamed Dafta?”

Lipman later referred to herself as a “drama queen,” before adding: “Note, Bafta: a queen, not a royal non-binary.”

BAFTA is not alone in offering gender-neutral prizes. The Berlin Film Festival and the Brit Awards have introduced gender-neutral categories.

Lipman was BAFTA nominated for her roles in Educating Rita and TV show Agony, but she has never won a prize from the organization.

BAFTA declined to comment.

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