Hugh Grant drops iconic Bridget Jones line at the BAFTAs

Hugh Grant made an adorable reference to his iconic fictional romance with Renée Zellweger in Bridget Jones’s Diary at the BAFTAs today.

Hugh Grant delighted Bridget Jones fans with a nod to the iconic 2001 rom com at the BAFTAs today.

Congratulating Renée Zellweger for her Best Actor win, the British star briefly resumed his role as Jones’ wayward yet charismatic love interest Daniel Cleaver, dropping to the crowd: “Well done, Jones.”

Pausing as the audience laughed, recognising the line from the film, he added: “That was a very, very silly little dress, I thought.”

Hugh Grant’s nod to the iconic film was a highlight of the ceremony. Picture: AP.

Zellweger took out the BAFTA for Best Actor. Picture: AP.

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But Grant’s dedication to the wildly popular film continued.

As he began to list the nominees for Best Film, he was unable to resist a joke aimed at Colin Firth, who played love rival Mark Darcy in the first instalment of the franchise almost two decades ago.

“Best Film category is an amazing bunch of films,” he said.

“I voted – I don’t normally do that unless I’m specifically trying to prevent Colin Firth from winning,” he quipped.

Hugh Grant and Renée Zellweger in a scene from Bridget Jones's Diary, 2001. Picture: StudioCanal

Zellweger picked up the gong for her portrayal of Judy Garland in the biopic Judy.

The Hollywood stalwart has been cleaning up this awards season, having won the same accolade at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and Critics’ Choice Awards.

She is also nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars, set to air in Australia next Monday from midday.

Elsewhere, the big winners in acting were Joaquin Phoenix for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Brad Pitt for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Laura Dern for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

Best Film, Outstanding British Film and Best Director all went to 1917.

Joaquin Phoenix accepts his Leading Actor award for his performance in @jokermovie #EEBAFTAs #BAFTAs pic.twitter.com/1nK49CjrJo

— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 2, 2020

The issue of diversity – or lack of it – was the recurring theme throughout the night after the BAFTAS copped controversy for failing to acknowledge people of colour in its list of nominations, with #BAFTAsSoWhite trending on Twitter at the time.

Phoenix (J oker) weighed in to the debate, saying he was “part of the problem” when accepting his award.

“I feel conflicted because so many of my fellow actors that are deserving don’t have that same privilege,” he said.

“I think we send a very clear message to people of colour that you’re not welcome here.

“I don’t think anybody wants a handout or preferential treatment, people just want to be acknowledged, appreciated and respected for their work.

“This is not a self-righteous condemnation. I’m part of the problem.”