The star-studded BAFTA Film Awards 2026 ceremony in London on Sunday also put a spotlight on Donna Langley, chair of NBCUniversal Entertainment and the first British woman to run a major Hollywood studio. The top executive, born and raised on the Isle of Wight in the U.K., took to the stage to receive the British Academy’s highest honor, the BAFTA Fellowship, to a standing ovation before highlighting cinema’s power to bring people together.
“We are … facing moments of change and disruption today,” Langley said. “And my hope is that those of us who help tell stories for a living continue to find inspiration to make popular art that carries over into people’s everyday lives — that helps us understand the world a bit better and to see each other a little more clearly… and reminds us that decency is a superpower.”
Langley also shared that her parents helped her “see differences as a strength and not a weakness.”
She continued: “As my career has progressed, I’ve come to believe that the most meaningful part of what we do is the people we choose to support along the way. The voices we encourage. And the talent we protect… long enough for them to find their feet. And the doors we remember to open.”
Langley ended with a call to action. “As we move forward, let’s remember the future of this business is not something that happens to us,” she emphasized. “It’s something we shape… by the risks we take and the people we back. So, let us continue to adapt, be resilient and make room for new voices.”
Prince William introduced Langley, lauding, among other things, her “determination and commitment,” and her “strong commitment to inclusion and mentorship.”
In a video reel showing collaborators praising Langley, Steven Spielberg said: “Donna is a peacemaker and she’s a dealmaker, a creative rights advocate, and she’s always on the forward fringe of new business, new technology, new ideas.”
He added: “Donna believes that movies and audiences belong in movie theaters, and she’s an advocate of that… to make movies [for people], as Gloria Swanson said in Sunset Boulevard, out there in the dark.”
Concluded Spielberg: “Her patience is kind of like the bonding agent. It makes us all feel like, in a way, she’s our security blanket.”
Christopher Nolan said in the reel: “It’s hard to think of a more deserving recipient of a BAFTA Fellowship than Dame Donna Langley. She’s been leading Universal with a very unique blend of filmmaker-friendly creative insights with true leadership that commands respect.” His conclusion: “Donna has a grasp of all the different aspects of the filmmaking process but never loses sight of the audience. [She] is so inspiring to work for and collaborate with.”
Mamma Mia! producer Judy Craymer lauded Langley as “a titan,” adding: “She’s an outlier. She’s already created an incredible legacy.”
Working Title Films chairs and producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner also feted Langley via the reel. “You have somebody at the very center of the motion picture business who really understands our culture, so that when you take a British idea or a British subject to her, she will understand it,” Bevan highlighted. Added Fellner: “Once she believes in what you’re trying to do, she’s 100 percent behind you.”
Sara Putt, BAFTA chair, previously lauded Langley for her distinguished career. “The first British woman to lead a major Hollywood studio, Dame Donna Langley’s cultural impact has been exceptional,” she said in unveiling the honor. “BAFTA is honored to celebrate Donna’s transformative studio leadership and strength of her creative relationships, including the many now-iconic films she has brought to audiences around the world.”
In unveiling details about the latest BAFTA Fellowship, BAFTA said Langley “has consistently served as an advocate for acclaimed and emerging filmmakers and showrunners, resulting in a diverse and enduring slate for NBCUniversal. As a trusted partner to the creative community, she has championed films that have shaped culture, such as Straight Outta Compton, Bridesmaids, Get Out, The Holdovers, and BAFTA’s best film winner Oppenheimer, among many others. All while bolstering beloved franchises – including Fast & Furious, Jurassic World, Bridget Jones, Mamma Mia, and the highest-grossing animated franchise of all time, Despicable Me. Most recently, with Wicked becoming the highest-grossing film musical of all time, Langley has underscored her ability to translate creative ambition into landmark cultural and commercial success.”
Concluded BAFTA: “She also continues to champion bold, creator-driven shows such as All Her Fault and The Day of the Jackal, helping bring dynamic stories to life for audiences everywhere. Throughout her career, Langley has maintained a strong commitment to, and investment in, British filmmaking.”
The BAFTA Awards, hosted by Scottish star Alan Cumming, the presenter and producer of The Traitors U.S., took place at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday evening. Full list of winners here.
