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'Lord of the Rings' casts BAFTA spell

LONDON, England -- The fantasy epic "The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" swept the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards, winning five, including best film.

Among the films it beat was the British-made "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (known as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in the U.S.), which came away empty-handed despite eight nominations at the British version of the Oscars.

Dame Judi Dench landed her eighth British Academy title, just months after she was given a BAFTA fellowship, winning the best actress prize for her performance in Iris.

Dame Judi, who is up for an Oscar for the role, beat Kidman, Sissy Spacek and Renee Zellweger for the award.

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Russell Crowe, an Oscar winner last year, triumphed in the best actor category -- beating "Lord Of The Rings" star Sir Ian McKellen to the prize – for his role as math genius John Nash in the acclaimed film "A Beautiful Mind."

Flamboyant turn-of-the-century musical "Moulin Rouge" -- which like "The Lord of The Rings" was up for 13 awards -- landed three prizes, for best supporting actor (Jim Broadbent), best sound and best music.

Broadbent is up for an Oscar next month as best supporting actor for his role in "Iris."

Weather no damper

A rain-soaked red carpet failed to prevent the British film industry's annual awards from being hailed a success in London.

As stars entered the Odeon Cinema in central London on Sunday for the Baftas, many complained as shoes and dresses were ruined by foamy suds from the sodden red carpet.

American actor Kevin Spacey joked that British actress Dame Judi Dench's shoes had been ruined, while ceremony host Stephen Fry suggested it was "years of greasy flattery given to actors which is finally bubbling up."

Australian actress Nicole Kidman, who lost the best actress award to Dench, drew gasps from the crowd of fans when she arrived in a revealing Yves Saint Laurent gown.

The Orange British Academy Film Awards attracted a list of top-name guests, including Kevin Spacey, Harvey Keitel and Colin Firth.

Fellowships to Beatty, Merchant-Ivory

U.S. director and actor Warren Beatty was given an academy fellowship, along with the production team of Ismail Merchant and James Ivory.

Beatty follows in the footsteps of Hollywood legends Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Elizabeth Taylor and Stanley Kubrick, each of whom has received the award.

BAFTA chairman Simon Relph said Beatty was one of the most versatile and gifted filmmakers.

"His contribution to the film industry cannot be underestimated and we are delighted to honour his work with this award," he told the UK's Press Association.

Eon Productions, which has created the series of Bond movies and is currently working on the 20th, also received a special award.

Relph said: "I am delighted to see that such a wide range of films and talents have been recognised at this year's ceremony.

"We have also been thrilled by the number of nominees attending."

Dame Judi agreed, saying: "It used to be rather a quiet affair but now it is rather exciting."

The full list of BAFTA winners:

Dame Judi Dench received the best actress award for her Oscar-nominated role in "Iris"