The stars had to dodge the rain on the red carpet as they arrived for the Bafta film awards.
Some of the biggest names in the business, including Helena Bonham Carter, Samuel L Jackson and Danny Boyle, were at the Royal Opera House in London for the event.
Bonham Carter, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the Queen Mother in The King's Speech, said she was not worrying too much about her rivals for the prize.
She said: "I am happy to lose. They are very welcome to them."
The story of King George VI's attempt to overcome his stutter is in the running for the most coveted prizes, including best film and director as well as actor for Colin Firth.
The film's 14 nominations follow disappointment at the Golden Globes, where the royal drama, directed by Briton Tom Hooper, took only one - Firth won best actor - of the seven awards for which it was contending.
Bonham Carter arrived in a restrained black Vivienne Westwood outfit after making headlines at the Golden Globes when she turned up in mis-matched shoes.
She admitted she had behaved like "an ostrich" the day after the awards in Los Angeles because she was so embarrassed, and said she hoped the rumours the Queen approved of the film were true.
Host Jonathan Ross opened the ceremony with a string of gags, promising Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais would not get into the building and saying any young actor would have given their right arm for a role in 127 Hours.
He then welcomed Sir Paul McCartney to the stage to the strains of Live and Let Die to hand out the award for Original Music, which went to Alexandre Desplat for his work on The King's Speech.
