'The Hurt Locker' beats 'Avatar' at Baftas

LONDON This year's big winner at the Baftas is 'The Hurt Locker'. Carey Mulligan en Colin Firth were named best actress and actor.

Kathryn Bigelow took six awards home tonight for 'The Hurt Locker', the story of bomb disposal experts in Iraq, including the prestigious prize for best film. She was also named best director and is the first woman to win this award. Bigelow triumphed over ex-husband James Cameron ('Avatar') and Jason Reitman ('Up in the air').

Carey Mulligan, who won the Bafta for best actress due to her performance in 'An Education', an adaptation of journalist Lynn Barber's autobiography, told the BBC she "didn't imagine in a million years that this would happen." Mulligan beat other stars including Meryl Streep, for her role in 'Julie and Julia', and French actress Audrey Tautou in 'Coco before Chanel'. Her award was the only win for 'An Education', despite eight nominations.

Best actor was Colin Firth, for his portrayal of a gay university professor in 'A Single Man.' The film was fashion designer Tom Ford's directorial debut. Firth outrivaled, among others, George Clooney.

James Cameron's 3D epic 'Avatar', up for eight awards, only came away with two, for special visual effects and production design.

Christoph Waltz won best supporting actor for Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds'. Mo'Nique was named best supporting actress for her role as an abusive mother in 'Precious'.

Best film in a foreign language winner was French crime 'A Prophet'.

Disney/Pixar's 'Up' won the Bafta for best animated film.



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