Actress Kate Beckinsale expressed her deep disappointment ahead of the Bafta awards, sharing that she felt "paralysed and sickened" upon learning that there was no guarantee of a tribute for her stepfather, Roy Battersby, at the TV ceremony.
The star of the Underworld film series revealed that she received an email from the TV and film awards, indicating that her stepfather would be considered for the in memoriam segment, but there was no assurance.
Director Roy Battersby, who received the Alan Clarke Award for outstanding contribution to television in 1996, passed away at the age of 87 earlier this month. He was known for his work on popular crime series such as Cracker, Between The Lines, Inspector Morse, and A Touch Of Frost, as well as the Tim Roth-starring BBC productions.
A Bafta spokesman acknowledged Battersby as "a renowned and trailblazing director" and expressed condolences for his death. The statement assured that he would be honored in the forthcoming Bafta television awards in May, including the in memoriam section on their website.
Prior to Bafta's announcement, Beckinsale shared her dismay on Instagram, stating that Bafta had informed her they "could not guarantee" his inclusion in the "in memoriam" tribute. She criticized the notion that a man with a decades-long career and significant accolades needed to audition for such recognition.
In her lengthy post, she revealed her heartbreak over the situation, expressing feeling paralyzed and sickened. She pledged to honor his memory and work every day of her life.
Beckinsale also highlighted Battersby's incredible contributions to projects like Leeds United!, Tomorrow's World, and Roll On Four O'Clock. She brought attention to her mother, actress Judy Loe, who has been quietly battling stage four cancer for the past six years and recently lost her husband.
Beckinsale's Instagram post coincided with the announcement of Bafta film award nominations, where Oppenheimer led with 11 nods. The email shared by Beckinsale revealed Bafta's response, explaining the process of selecting names for the in memoriam segment and stating they cannot guarantee inclusion.