Pregnant Ellie Goulding showcases her baby bump in plunging satin dress as she joins a very leggy Tess Daly and an elegant Joanne Froggatt in leading the stars at BAFTA Invest in Talent Gala

Ellie Goulding, Tess Daly and Joanne Froggatt ensured all eyes were on them on Thursday night, as they led the star-studded arrivals at the BAFTA Invest in Talent Gala 2026 at The Chancery Rosewood in London.

Ellie, 39, who is heavily pregnant with her second child, led the glamour on the red carpet, as she showcased her blossoming baby bump in a figure-hugging satin and lace dress.

The pale pink number boasted a plunging neckline to show off her cleavage, while the singer layered a tight-fitted sheer tulle dress over the top, which clung to her growing belly.

Ellie - who is expecting her first baby with boyfriend Beau Minniear and is already mum to son Arthur, four, with ex-husband Caspar Jopling - looked radiant as she accessorised her look with a sparkling diamond necklace and earrings.

While Tess, 56, commanded attention as she arrived at the bash in a strapless little black dress,w ith a daringly high slit that displayed her toned legs.

After stepping down as the host of Strictly Come Dancing last year, she appeared to reference the show's famous Glitterball Trophy in her look, which was encrusted with gemstones.

The presenter looked on cloud nine as she strutted down the red carpet, elevating her already statuesque frame with white high heels.

While Joanne, 45, was the picture of sophistication in a halterneck black gown with a structured bodice that cinched her in at her tiny waist.

The Downton Abbey star's chic look was elevated with a semi-sheer skirt, which flashed a glimpse of her legs and flowed into a small train.

Hollywood power couple Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender put on a loved-up display as they posed together at the event.

Oscar-winning actress Alicia, 37, looked nothing short of sensational in an elegant off-the-shoulder grey gown, with voluminous skirt and ruffled detail.

Her movie star husband Michael, 48, with whom she shares two children, looked as dashing as ever in a classic tuxedo and black tie.

Harry Potter and White Lotus star Jason Isaacs also cut a handsome figure sporting a black suit with a coordinating button-up shirt and tie. 

Monica Lewinsky was the epitome of old Hollywood glamour in a glittering red sequinned gown that clung to her enviable curves.

While acting legend and recent Celebrity Traitors favourite, Celia Imrie, caught the eye in black tuxedo teamed with a colourful patterned scarf, red silk shirt and sparkling moon-shaped brooch. 

Gwendoline Christie showcased the best of androgynous fashion in a pair of brown satin trousers paired with a mustard shirt and burgundy silk tie.

The Game of Thrones star completed her fashion forward look with a trendy mauve trench coat and boosted her 6ft3in height even further with a pair of heeled leather boots.

The gala is a biennial fundraising event dedicated to financing the next generation of creative talent in film, games, and television.

The 2026 BAFTA nominations were announced last month by 2025 Rising Star nominee David Jonsson and Aimee Lou Wood.

Days after its success at the Academy Award nominations, One Battle After Another earned the most nods with 14, including one for lead star Leonardo DiCaprio. 

After breaking the record for the most Oscar nods of all time, Sinners takes second place at the BAFTAs, with 13 nominations.

Marty Supreme and Hamnet scored eleven each, ahead of Frankenstein and Sentimental Value, which each earned eight, while I Swear and Bugonia both got five and The Ballad of Wallis Island, Pillion and F1, each scored three nods.

Hamnet, Chloe Zhao's adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's award-winning novel about the family life of William Shakespeare, has broken the record for the most nominations for a female-directed film in BAFTA history. 

The Best Film category will see Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sinners and Sentimental Value face off to score the biggest prize of the night.

Irish star Jessie Buckley is adding to her awards season roster with a nod for her lead role in Hamnet after already winning the Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award, is also the frontrunner to win both the Oscar and SAG Award next month. 

 Also vying for the Leading Actress gong are Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You; Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue; Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another; Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value and Emma Stone for Bugonia. 

While Jessie's Hamnet co-star Paul Mescal was snubbed at the Oscar nominations, he has earned a Supporting Actor BAFTA nod.

He is up against stiff competition from Benicio Del Toro for One Battle After Another; Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein; Petter Mullan for I Swear; Sean Penn for One Battle After Another and Stellan Skarsgard for Sentimental Value. 

Leo could earn his second ever BAFTA after scoring his seventh nomination for One Battle After Another, but will need to beat out his 2026 awards season foe Timothee Chalamet for Marty Supreme.

The impressively-stacked category is rounded out by Robert Aramayo for I Swear, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, Michael B Jordan for Sinners and Jesse Plemons for Bugonia. 

There's hopes for a British win in the Supporting Actress field as Nigerian-British Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku competes alongside Carey Mulligan for The Ballad Of Wallis Island and Emily Watson for Hamnet. 

The Brits will face off against Odessa A'Zion for Marty Supreme, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for Sentimental Value and Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another.

First time nominees in the performance categories who have received their first BAFTA Film nomination are; Robert Aramayo, Odessa A'zion, Rose Byrne, Chase Infiniti, Michael B. Jordan, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgård, and Teyana Taylor.

Meanwhile in the Best Director category, two of the six directors are first-time nominees - Ryan Coogler for Sinners and Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme. 

Sinners' success in the BAFTA nominations came just a week after the vampire film earned the most Academy Awards nods ever, including the coveted Best Picture prize. 

With its whopping 16 nods, it has shattered the Oscars record of 14 nominations, previously shared by 1950's All About Eve, 1997's Titanic and 2016's La La Land.

Meanwhile One Battle After Another - Paul Thomas Anderson's film about a washed-up revolutionary searching for his missing teenage daughter - has 13 Oscar nominations.

At the BAFTAs the Leo-led movie has earned nods in all four of the acting categories with double hopes for success in Supporting Actor thanks to Sean and Benicio.

Paul has scored a Director nomination, whilst the movie also has nods in the Adapted Screenplay, Casting, Cinematography, Editing, Original Score, Production Design and Sound categories.

And after Wicked: For Good was completely shut out of the Oscars, it managed two nominations at the BAFTAs, for costume design and make-up and hair.

In contrast though, Brazilian thriller The Secret Agent also has two nominations - half the number it received at the Oscars, where it managed nods in major categories including best actor and best picture.

K-Pop Demon Hunters missed out altogether thanks to Netflix choosing to stream the movie in the UK before showing it in cinemas, going against BAFTA rules.

While the nominees for the EE BAFTA Rising Star Award are Archie Madekwe for Lurker, Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another, Miles Caton  for Sinners, Posy Sterling for Lollipop and Robert Aramayo for I Swear.

The nominees were chosen by a panel of industry jurors including actors Joe Alwyn, Sheila Atim and Benedict Wong alongside a host of distinguished industry experts.

The prestigious EE Rising Star Award is the only BAFTA gong that is voted for by the British public.

The award is seen as an indicator of future Hollywood success with previous winners including A-list stars Tom Holland, James McAvoy,  Lashana Lynch, Kristen Stewart, Eva Green, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright and Tom Hardy.

221 films were submitted for consideration by the BAFTA judges and 82 made the longlist before being whittled down for the shortlist. 

Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, said: 'Huge congratulations to the teams behind the 46 superb films nominated today. They showcase the very best of storytelling and its ability to engage, entertain and provoke debate.'

'This year's nominated films are full of bold storytelling and exquisite craft. And the breadth of narrative, genres and styles is spellbinding.'

'Whether newcomers or veterans, I hope our first-time nominees enjoy this much deserved spotlight, and I look forward to welcoming them and all our returning nominees to London.'

'As the UK's leading arts charity and academy, it's a real privilegeto showcase this year's brilliant films and the talent in the 79th EE BAFTA Film Awards, which will be broadcast on BBC, BBC iPlayer, and across the world on 22 February.'

The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards will take place on Sunday February 22 and are set to be hosted by Alan Cumming.