Kate Beckinsale has enjoyed renewed success at BAFTA following the death of her TV director stepfather Roy Battersby on Monday at the age of 87.
The 50-year-old actress was left distraught earlier this week after being told that Roy, who was awarded the Alan Clarke Award by BAFTA in 1996, may not be included in the In Memoriam portion of the awards ceremony at next month’s event in London.
Kate admitted she was left ‘paralysed, sick and nauseous’ after receiving a ‘very cold email’ from the organization informing her of their decision.
She then slammed the organization in another Instagram post on Saturday for “not publicly apologizing” to her or her grieving family, before thanking fans for their support.
Kate shared a snippet of a text message from an unknown person which read: ‘Hello Kate, I have spoken to the CEO of BAFTA who is of course extremely apologetic. She is very sorry about the email and what caused it.”
Kate Beckinsale, 50, has another hit at BAFTA following the death of her TV director stepfather Roy Battersby at the age of 87 on Monday
The actress was left distraught earlier this week after being told that Roy, who was awarded the Alan Clarke Award by BAFTA in 1996, may not be included in the In Memoriam segment of the awards ceremony at next month’s London event (pictured with her mother Judy Loe)
Kate shared a text message on Instagram apologizing from BAFTA, criticizing the organization for not doing so publicly
“I hope they find a way to make this right, but so far all they have asked me to do is apologize.”
In a lengthy caption, she wrote: “First of all, I would like to thank all of you who expressed your support and outrage at the coldly worded email from BAFTA that so upset me and my family. Roy would have been deeply moved and moved to tears, and it is unbearable to me that he could not see the amazing messages of love you left behind.”
“Secondly, you may be aware that BAFTA has said he will be included in their segment. . I have not heard from them, they have not apologized to me publicly or personally, but only asked my publicist to pass on an apology.”
Kate continued: ‘I have received far too many DMs from relatives of people in the British film industry who have passed away, receiving similar cold emails and being equally saddened by it.’
“90 percent of those who work in film and television are working class people who are not necessarily well paid or treated particularly well.”
‘Instead of an apology which is now unnecessary, I would like a public and permanent assurance that BAFTA is making a major change to their policy of sending emails to anyone who has been bereaved; whether that person is a DP, sound or vfx technician, costume department, editor, electrician, grip or carpenter, let alone someone who is honored in the way Roy was’.
“These people are the heart and soul of our industry and it is a calling. They routinely have to sacrifice time with their families, miss important events, anniversaries, are abroad for school plays or until Christmas, are unable to care for sick relatives as they would like because they have to work extremely long hours to to feed their children. families’.
‘If BAFTA is truly an organization that pays tribute to those who work in this sector, I want assurance that this is the last time they will email the family of ANY of its employees with such a dismissive and cold tone, whether it ultimately concerns the person in this sector question may or may not be included in the segment’.
In a lengthy caption she wrote: ‘Firstly, thank you to all of you who expressed your support and outrage at the coldly worded email from BAFTA that so upset me and my family’
Roy passed away on Wednesday, January 10 at the age of 87, after the actress quietly cared for him and her mother in recent months (pictured in 2021)
Adding: ‘And if not, the email should be doubly compassionate and celebrate their contribution. My stepfather knew the name of everyone who worked on his set, from cameraman to caterer, and once quit production because the focus puller hadn’t been paid. This is what he would have wanted. Thanks again x’.
After Kate first heard of the news, she wrote: ‘Here’s a photo just after I presented my stepfather with the BAFTA lifetime achievement award for his incredible work on television from Colin Welland’s ‘Leeds United!’ about the first all-female strike in the clothing trade…
‘”Roll on Four o clock”, the documentary “The Body” with music by Roger Waters and commentary by poet Adrian Mitchell, the first seven episodes of Cracker’s groundbreaking “Tomorrow’s World”…
‘Between the lines, Inspector Morse, A Touch of Frost, the first Edward Bond play ever written for television, starring the late Bernard Hill and the late, enchanting Charlotte Coleman and countless others…
“Today BAFTA told me they could not guarantee he would be included in their ‘in memoriam’ tribute, honoring the industry members we have lost…”
After Kate first heard of the news, she wrote: ‘Here’s a photo just after I presented my stepfather with the BAFTA lifetime achievement award for his incredible work on television from Colin Welland’s ‘Leeds United!’ about the first all-female strike in the clothing trade…
Roy was hospitalized in Los Angeles last month after suffering a “major stroke” while battling two forms of cancer, which he was diagnosed with in the summer of 2023
“So a man who has been dead less than a week somehow has to audition for a committee after a decades-long career in which he has been rewarded by said organization (which awarded him the highest award they have) to decide if his death is worth it. to report…
“If his work, his life, his craft, his mentorship, his heart and soul are worth mentioning, he is gone. That, that broke my heart again. I am paralyzed, sick and sick and I will honor him and his work every day of my life.”
When contacted by MailOnline, a spokesperson for BAFTA said: ‘We were very sorry to hear of the recent passing of Roy Battersby – he was a renowned and groundbreaking director.
Roy Battersby received the 1996 Alan Clarke Award, a BAFTA Special Television Award.
“We confirm that he will be honored at our upcoming BAFTA Television Awards in May, and in the In Memoriam section of our website.”
On Wednesday, the actress then took to social media to pay tribute to the patriarch, who was hospitalized in LA last month after suffering a “major stroke” while battling two forms of cancer, diagnosed in the summer of 2023.
Kate’s mother Judy married Roy 18 years after Kate’s father, Porridge star Richard Beckinsale, died.
Roy enjoyed his own successful career as a director, working on major British film hits including Inspector Morse and Cracker. His most recent directing credit was on a 2006 episode of A Touch Of Frost.