AFP, LONDON: British film "The King's Speech" warmed up for the Oscars Sunday by picking up the coveted BAFTA gong for Best Film while Colin Firth, who plays the film's stammering monarch, collected Best Actor.
The dramatisation of the true-life relationship between King George VI and his speech therapist won seven awards at the ceremony held in central London's Royal Opera House.
Hollywood A-listers Samuel L. Jackson, Jesse Eisenberg and Mickey Rourke watched on as the story of the stammering monarch beat off competition from "The Social Network," "Black Swan," Inception" and "True Grit".
The film is among the favourites to collect the Best Picture award at the Oscars on February 27.
Firth has now claimed the impressive double of BAFTA and Golden Globe for his portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II's father, but will have to wait two weeks to find out if he can complete the set with the biggest prize in showbusiness.
The Queen was reported to have given the royal seal approval to the triumphant film, an endorsement which Firth admitted meant "a very great deal."
Helena Bonham Carter earlier won best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of the Queen's mother while Geoffrey Rush walked off with best Supporting Actor for his role as the king's speech therapist.
Natalie Portman claimed the Best Actress award for her performance in "Black Swan."
