Danny Boyle's triumph: Slumdog wins big at BAFTAs

Feb 9, 2009, 10:00 GMT

British actor Dev Patel (L) and Indian actress Freida Pinto (R) pose for photographers at the winners\' board during the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) annual awards held at the Royal Opera House in Central London, Britain, 08 February 2009. The BAFTAs are the biggest awards of their kind in the UK and are meant to honour achievement within the film and television industry in 23 categories. EPA/DANIEL DEME

'Slumdog Millionaire' won seven awards at last night's BAFTAs (08.02.09).

The rags-to-riches tale was named Best Film and Best Adapted Screenplay, while Danny Boyle was honoured as Best Director.

It also won prizes for music, cinematography, editing and sound.

Mickey Rourke triumphed in the Best Actor category, being recognised for his acclaimed comeback performance in 'The Wrestler'.

The actor - who has spent 15 years in the Hollywood wilderness - made an emotional acceptance speech, in which he said: "It's such a pleasure to be back here, out of the darkness."

He also praised his publicist, Paula Woods, for "having the hardest job in showbusiness - telling me where to go, what to do, when to do it, how to dress..."

Kate Winslet was perfectly composed when she accepted the statuette for Best Actress for her performance in 'The Reader'.

The 33-year-old British star - who sobbed and gasped her way through her Golden Globes acceptance speech last month - thanked her parents in the audience "who I will not look at right now, otherwise I will burst into tears".

Australian actor Heath Ledger - who died of an accidental prescription drug overdose last year - was posthumously received the Best Supporting Actor prize for his grim portrayal of The Joker in Batman blockbuster 'The Dark Knight'.

The star-studded audience was in tears as the film's producer Charles Roven accepted the statue on behalf of Ledger's family.

Roven said: "Knowing Heath, I know that he would be very humbled just to be in the company of the other performers that were also nominated this evening.

"He was, as an actor and a professional and a human being, one of a kind."

Winslet, Rourke, Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig and Penelope Cruz braved the wet London weather to walk the red carpet at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were also in attendance, but both saw their films overlooked.

Pitt's 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' - nominated for 11 awards - only won three, while Jolie's 'Changeling', acknowledged in eight categories, went home empty-handed.