Ariana Grande touches down on Baftas 2025 red carpet after fans feared major snub

The Baftas are underway, with Ariana Grande leading glam arrivals (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)

The 2025 Baftas are underway, with an array of industry icons gracing the red carpet to celebrate a stellar year for film.

Fans were relieved to see US pop star Ariana Grande on the carpet after initially fearing she’d snubbed the prestigious ceremony, this year hosted by beloved Scottish actor David Tennant.

The Grammy winner and Wicked actress, 31, was spotted touching down at JFK airport in New York just yesterday, leaving social media users to wonder if she had somewhere more important to be than the Baftas.

However, it seemed to have been a false alarm, as Ariana arrived shortly after her co-stars, wearing a very low-cut gown featuring a dramatic, puffy pink skirt, custom-designed by Louis Vuitton.

She was accompanied by Elphaba actress Cynthia Erivo, who turned heads in a quirky white lace number. Erivo is nominated for best leading actress, while Grande is up for best supporting actress.

Erivo, 38, who began her career in the West End, is one of two British stars in the leading actress category, competing alongside Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths), Mikey Madison (Anora), Karla Sofia Gascon (Emilia Perez), and Saoirse Ronan (The Outrun).

Fans feared the Wicked actress was about to snub the ceremony (Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images) Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo could take home one of the night’s biggest prizes (Picture: John Phillips/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) Elphaba and Glinda greeted one another with a warm embrace (Picture: Dave Benett/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) 62-year-old Demi Moore wowed with her ageless beauty as The Substance star wore a sequin gown (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire)

Completing the best actress category is 62-year-old Demi Moore, who wowed with her ageless beauty as she donned an ultra-sparkly gown.

Her body horror film The Substance has already clinched awards at the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes thanks to Moore’s performance.

Also spotted on the red carpet this weekend was Molly-Mae Hague, who put in a surprise appearance after weeks of making headlines with her personal life.

The 25-year-old Maebe founder hit the headlines earlier this year when she split from her soon-to-be husband, Tommy Fury, with whom she shares daughter Bambi.

Hague then released the first part of her docuseries, titled Behind It All, in which she lifted the lid on the gossip surrounding her relationship.

Putting on a smile as she mingled with the stars at this year’s Baftas, the former Love Islander looked super chic in all black.

25-year-old influencer Molly-Mae Hague looked stunning in a chic black outfit (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire) Host David Tennant posed alongside his wife Georgia Tennant (Picture: John Phillips/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) Adam Pearson larked around with photographers on the red carpet (Picture: Tristan Fewings/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta)

She styled a structured cropped blazer with a plunging neckline with a fitted skirt, styling her blonde locks in her signature bun.

Joining Hauge on the carpet was Jeff Goldblum putting on a romantic display with Emilie Livingston, whom he married in 2014.

The 72-year-old Wicked star was every inch the Hollywood icon in a white bow tie, injecting some of the Emerald City magic with a green patterned waistcoat.

Goldblum, who plays the Wizard in Jon M. Chu’s movie musical, will later take to the stage, playing piano during the In Memoriam segment.

Another star strutting their stuff for paparazzi was a bare-faced Pamela Anderson, with The Last Showgirl’s leading lady looking angelic in white.

An angelic-looking Pamela Anderson will present an award tonight (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage) A Complete Unknown star Timothée Chalamet has been nominated for best supporting actor (Picture: John Phillips/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) Heretic nominee Hugh Grant beamed alongside his wife Anna Eberstein (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock) Colman Domingo’s cape was a sight to behold (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)

Anderson, best known for her iconic role in Baywatch, attends the event as a presenter. Although she was overlooked for her performance in Gia Coppola’s drama, the 57-year-old star will take the stage to hand out one of the evening’s prestigious gongs.

Other presenters at the ceremony will include Emilia Perez stars Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez, although co-star Gascon’s attendance remains uncertain due to recent controversy over resurfaced social media posts from 2019 to 2024. The project is up for 11 awards.

Pop sensation Camila Cabello, The Lord of the Rings actor Orlando Bloom, Scottish actor James McAvoy, and Pitch Perfect star Anna Kendrick will also hand out trophies.

Musical performances will add to the evening’s allure, with British pop band Take That singing their hit song Greatest Day from the film Anora.

The best leading actor category features notable nominees such as Ralph Fiennes, Sebastian Stan, Hugh Grant, Adrien Brody, Colman Domingo, and Timothee Chalamet. Other attendees include Kate Winslet (Lee) and Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain).

James Norton was among dapper arrivals in a black tux (Picture: John Phillips/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) Even Wallace and Gromit put in an appearance! (Picture: Joe Maher/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) Kneecap has been recognised as a potential winner for outstanding British film (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire) Selena Gomez looked gorgeous in an embellished gown after confirming her return to music (Picture: John Phillips/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta)

Another special highlight of the evening will be Warwick Davis receiving the Bafta fellowship, recognising his outstanding contributions to film, television, and games.

Notably absent will be the Prince of Wales, president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, who will miss this year’s event.

On the red carpet, Bafta chief executive Jane Millichip told the PA news agency that this is a ‘really wide open race’ and she had ‘no idea how to call’ the winners.

She also said: ‘I think the viewing public in the UK has always welcomed films not in the English language, whether they’re subtitled or dubbed. We mostly subtitle in the UK, so I don’t think it’s a stretch for British audiences to watch and welcome these films.

‘So the film not in the English language is a really important category for me. I think also the range of films, the number of countries represented, and the languages. I mean, it’s fantastic to have an Irish film (Kneecap) in Irish; I mean, that’s great.’

Orlando Bloom brought some Hollywood glamour to the carpet, flying solo without Katy Perry by his side (Picture: by John Phillips/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) Irish actress Saoirse Ronan injected colour to a demure satin look with a bold red lip (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire) Take That stars Mark Owen, Gary Barlow, and Howard Donald will perform tonight (Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images) Comment nowWho do you want to see win big at this year’s Baftas?Comment Now

Tennant returns to host the ceremony for the second consecutive year.

The Doctor Who icon put a slick spin on the classic black tux by adding colourful sequin embellishments to his look as he arrived at the bash this afternoon.

Debuting his purple quiff, he posed alongside wife Georgia Tennant, who looked gorgeous in lace.

The 2025 Bafta Film Awards will be broadcast live at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK. Red carpet coverage hosted by Clara Amfo and Alex Zane will stream live on the Bafta YouTube channel ahead of the ceremony.

Full list of Bafta 2025 winners

Special visual effects - Dune: Part Two

Children's and family film - Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Outstanding debut by a British writer, director, and producer - Rich Peppiatt (Kneecap)

Production design - Wicked