British stars push all-black Baftas

Emma Watson arrives at the InStyle and Warner Bros. Golden Globes afterparty at the Beverly Hilton Hotel last month. Photo / AP

Mirroring Hollywood, some of the biggest names in British film are campaigning for an all-black dress code at this month's Bafta awards to highlight widespread sexual harassment at work.

Top British stars from Emma Thompson to Keira Knightley have already given their support to a letter calling on industry figures to wear black at the ceremony, said Kate Kinninmont, who heads the Women in Film & Television UK group.

"We need to professionalise our industry, be more inclusive, appoint more senior women and get rid of pay inequality. Time is Up!" Kinninmont said in an email.

A big turnout in black would follow the striking show staged by Hollywood last month, when the red carpet at the Golden Globe awards was awash with black dresses.

The Bafta awards take place on February 18 in London, and are the industry's top night of accolades and self-celebration.

The letter urging solidarity with victims of sexual harassment in the workplace was printed by celebrity news website Deadline. Kinninmont confirmed it and the backing of top actresses, including Gemma Arterton, Emma Watson (pictured, at the Globes), Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Daisy Ridley, Felicity Jones and Emilia Clarke.

The campaign comes after a slew of allegations of sexual misconduct against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein last year sparked the #MeToo campaign.

Guillermo del Toro's fantasy The Shape of Water is leading the field this month with 12 Bafta nominations, including for Sally Hawkins who will face competition from Frances McDormand of Three Billboards to win in the Leading Actress category.