‘I couldn’t do what these directors do – I don’t have the balls’: Rebel Wilson goes down a storm at the Baftas

Actor and comedian took aim at male-dominated awards ceremony; Coronavirus; the royal family; and her own box office bomb, ‘Cats’

Rebel Wilson proved to be a highlight of this year’s Baftas while presenting the award for Best Director.

“It really is great to be here at the Royal Andrew– I mean the Royal Harry, no sorry – Royal Phil – ah, at this royal palace,” the Australian actor began, before a producer cut to Bafta president Prince William sitting in the front row.

Touching on this year’s initiative, which encourages stars to recycle outfits they’ve worn in the past, Wilson commented that she sewed together two different dresses. One was a red, sequined gown she wore to an Australian pageant competition – the other was a black dress she wore “to the funeral of the movie Cats”.

She added that the film was “strangely not nominated for any awards” and that there has been a “distinct lack of nominations for felines”.

Wilson, who also stars in this year’s Bafta-winning film Jojo Rabbit, joked about the fact that there were no female director nominees.

After naming all five of the male filmmakers who were nominated, Wilson said: “I couldn’t do what they do – I just don’t have the balls.”

At one point, she held the Bafta award up to her face and said: “What a great way to stop yourself from getting the coronavirus.”

The actor’s speech received a warm reaction both at the ceremony and on social media.

“Everyone else may as well go home, Rebel Wilson has won the Baftas,” reporter Jess Long wrote on Twitter.

For the full list of winners, visit here.