Michaela Coel poses for photographers with his Leading Actress award for her role in 'I May Destroy You' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
LONDON (AP) - 'œI May Destroy You'ť won two main prizes at the 2021 British Academy Television Awards, in a ceremony that rewarded TV that tackled tough issues including sexual consent and racism.
The drama about a woman dealing with the aftermath of a sexual assault was named best miniseries, while creator and star Michaela Coel won the best actress prize.
Coel dedicated the award to the show's director of intimacy, Ita O'Brien, 'œfor making the space safe for creating physical, emotional, and professional boundaries so that we can make work about exploitation, loss of respect, about abuse of power, without being exploited or abused in the process.'ť
Paul Mescal was named best actor for Irish love story 'œNormal People'ť at a live ceremony on Sunday with a limited, socially distanced audience.
The best supporting actress trophy went to Rakie Ayola for 'œAnthony,'ť a drama based on the death of a Black British teenager in a racist attack in 2005. Malachi Kirby was named best supporting actor for 'œSmall Axe,'ť director Steve McQueen's series about Britain's West Indian community from the 1960s to the 1980s.
'œSitting in Limbo,'ť inspired by the true story of long-time British residents from the Caribbean threatened with deportation by the government, was named best single drama. Thriller 'œSave Me Too'ť took the BAFTA for best drama series.
A tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement by dance troupe Diversity on 'œBritain's Got Talent'ť was named must-see moment of the year, chosen by the public. The routine - which included a man in police uniform kneeling on another dancer - drew both praise and thousands of complaints to the broadcasting regulator.
Troupe member Ashley Banjo thanked supporters, and said people who complained about the routine 'œshowed the truth.'ť
'œYou showed exactly why this performance, this moment, was necessary,'ť he said.
Michaela Coel poses for photographers with his Leading Actress award for her role in 'I May Destroy You' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
Michaela Coel poses for photographers with his Leading Actress award for her role in 'I May Destroy You' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
Michaela Coel poses for photographers with his Leading Actress award for her role in 'I May Destroy You' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
Paul Mescal poses for photographers with his Leading Actor award for his role in 'Normal People' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
Paul Mescal poses for photographers with his Leading Actor award for his role in 'Normal People' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
Paul Mescal poses for photographers with his Leading Actor award for his role in 'Normal People' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
Jordan Banjo, left, and Ashley Banjo pose for photographers with their Must See Moment award in 'Britain's Got Talent' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
Jordan Banjo, left, and Ashley Banjo pose for photographers with their Must See Moment award in 'Britain's Got Talent' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
Jordan Banjo, left, and Ashley Banjo pose for photographers with their Must See Moment award in 'Britain's Got Talent' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
Aimee Lou Wood poses for photographers with her Best Female Performance for a Comedy Programme for her role in 'Sex Education' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
Reece Shearsmith poses for photographers with his Scripted Comedy award for 'Inside No.9' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
Rakie Ayola poses for photographers with her Best Supporting Actress award for her role in 'Anthony' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
Romesh Ranganathan poses for photographers with his Entertainment Performance award for the 'The Ranganation' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press
Rakie Ayola poses for photographers with her Best Supporting Actress award for her role in 'Anthony' backstage at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Associated Press