From: www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/
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Stars out for the BaftasFor the film industry's movers and shakers, there is only one place to be on February 11 - on the red carpet at The Orange British Academy Film Awards.
Last year's guest list reads like a shopping list of Hollywood's A-list as thousands of brave fans turned out to see Jake Gyllenhaal, Thandie Newton, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Charlize Theron, Ziyi Zhang, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams and Pierce Brosnan strut up the red carpet.
And this year we can expect even more glamour, with such stars as 007 Daniel Craig battling it out for best actor against Leonardo DiCaprio, and Penelope Cruz going head-to-head with Kate Winslet for best actress.
One person who has already bagged her spot on the red carpet is comedienne Ruby Wax, who will be hosting the awards coverage for E! entertainment.
The Baftas veteran has run into a fair few celebrities in her years as a presenter and hopes to notch up a few more close encounters this year.
"I snogged Christian Slater and I know that was a great moment," she gloats.
"He was really shocked because you're not supposed to touch them you're just supposed to praise them.
"A lot of times I get to touch those women's skin, like Cate Blanchett, they have skin that isn't human - they're extraordinary creatures."
"A lot of times I get to touch those women's skin, like Cate Blanchett, they have skin that isn't human - they're extraordinary creatures."
And she's looking forward to catching up with Bafta-nominee and friend Helen Mirren on the red carpet this year.
"Helen Mirren I know so I can play around with her, if you know them from before you can always play.
"I think Little Miss Toni Collette is a God and I bet you that will be a good conversation, and Meryl Streep will be hilarious," she promises.
But the ceremony won't be the same this year for Ruby, who can't walk after a recent operation on her feet.
"My feet are broken this year, they really are, I'm wearing special shoes because I had to have some corrective foot surgery," she says.
"Of course my timing wasn't perfect so I'm going to be on a zimmer frame and I'm going to get the sympathy thing going."
The Academy's Film Awards began in 1947 - 20 years after the inaugural Oscars - and have always been a glitzy and star-studded international event, with a host of big names flying in for the evening.
The gongs are presented annually "to recognise, honour and reward individuals for outstanding achievement in feature and short films produced worldwide and released in UK cinemas".
Initially there were only awards in three categories, but the event has grown to include 24 categories.
Among the notable introductions is The Alexander Korda Award for the Outstanding British Film of the Year in 1992, whose previous winners include Shadowlands, The Madness Of King George, Secrets & Lies, Elizabeth and East Is East.
This year's contenders are The Last King Of Scotland, the critically acclaimed Bond film Casino Royale, Notes On A Scandal, Golden Globe winner The Queen and United 93.
The main awards are voted for by Bafta's 6,500-strong membership, the majority of whom are hand-picked from within the film, television and video games industries.
Since 1998, the celebration has been sponsored by Orange and in 2000 the company became its title sponsor.
The prestigious gongs were previously awarded in a ceremony held some time after the razzmatazz of the Oscars.
But since 2001 they have shifted to a date just after the Academy Award nominations - but ahead of the actual ceremony - which has dramatically boosted the event's international profile.
Simon Relph, chairman of Bafta, said at the time: "This strategic move has been under consideration for some time.
"As a platform, the new date will undoubtedly attract even more international talent to the ceremony, increasing its stature and influence considerably."
Arguably the awards now influence the ultimate choice of Oscar voters.
This year, Dame Helen Mirren has received a Bafta and Oscar nomination for best actress for her portrayal of the monarch in The Queen.
Surprisingly, Dame Helen has never won an Oscar or a Bafta film award, but after bagging the Golden Globe for best actress, she is tipped to get the best actress Oscar and Bafta for her portrayal of Elizabeth II.
Ruby Wax hosts E! Entertainment Television's Live from the Red Carpet: The 2007 BAFTA Awards, on Sunday 11th February from 4pm.
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