BAFTA 2018 news: 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' front-runner for best picture based on fan votes

English Actor Eddie Redmayne poses after receiving the award for best leading actor for "The Theory of Everything" at the British Academy of Film and Arts awards ceremony. Reuters/Suzanne Plunkett

A few days before the British Academy Film Awards, more and more votes have landed in Gold Derby's predicted winner poll. Looking at the Best Picture award, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" is leading, with "The Shape of Water" not too far from top. Since the full nominations list was revealed, Gold Derby has opened a poll for BAFTA followers to vote for their choice for every category.

Looking further at the poll, other front-runners for different categories include Guillermo Del Toro as Best Director in "The Shape of Water," Gary Oldman as Best Actor in "Darkest Hour," Frances McDormand for Best Actress in "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," Sam Rockwell as Best Supporting Actor in "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," Allison Janney for Best Supporting Actress in "I, Tonya," "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" for Best Original Screenplay, "Blade Runner 2049" for Best Cinematography, Timothee Chalamet for Rising Star award, and more.

Meanwhile, Joanna Lumley is the first woman to host the BAFTA in solo. In an interview with Lumley, the soon-to-be BAFTA host seems to just take it lightly by saying, "I'm really just literally the host." She added that her role is only to make the audience happy, saying, "It's a good word, the host: it means make sure everybody is happy."

Lumley went to explain that being the host this year is an honor for her. "My thrill of accepting this honour of presenting is because I adore film," she said. She also shared that the awards day is all about the recognition of great performances not only on the direction of the film and the actors but also in the art and costumes of the every film production.

The British Academy Film Awards will take place at the Royal Albert Hall in London, United Kingdom on Sunday, Feb. 18.

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