LONDON — In a night filled with high-stakes competition and British flair, veteran actor Sean Penn achieved a career milestone at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards. Despite his two Academy Awards and decades of critical acclaim, Penn had never before walked away with a BAFTA mask—until tonight.
Penn was awarded Best Supporting Actor for his chilling and transformative performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling crime epic, One Battle After Another.
A Career First
While Penn has been nominated twice before, his victory for the role of Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw—a corrupt and relentless military officer—marks his first win from the British Academy. Industry insiders noted that his win was a slight upset, as he faced stiff competition from heavy hitters:
- Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value) – considered the category favorite.
- Benicio del Toro (One Battle After Another) – Penn’s own co-star.
- Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein).
- Paul Mescal (Hamnet).
The Absence on Stage
In a move characteristic of the actor’s low-profile approach to the awards circuit, Penn was not in attendance at London’s Southbank Centre to accept the honor. The award was presented by Gillian Anderson and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
”Sean could not be there tonight to collect his award… so, I’m taking it!” joked Anderson as she accepted the mask on his behalf.
Momentum Toward the Oscars
The victory significantly shifts the landscape for the upcoming 99th Academy Awards. While Skarsgård had earlier momentum after a Golden Globe win, Penn’s BAFTA victory—paired with the immense critical success of One Battle After Another—positions him as a frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and based on Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland, the film has become an awards powerhouse, also picking up BAFTAs for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography tonight.
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