Kidman, Polanski Rack Up BAFTA Wins

By Stephen M. Silverman

Monday February 24, 2003 01:00 PM EST

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Continuing on a roll that began last month with her Golden Globe win, Nicole Kidman was named best actress at Sunday's British Academy of Film and Television Awards in London for her portrayal of author Virginia Woolf in "The Hours."

It marked her first BAFTA victory, after having been nominated last year for "The Others." However, this award traditionally hasn't been an Oscar indicator -- this year is the first time that the British Academy has held its ceremony before Hollywood's Academy Awards (held on March 23).

Kidman, 35, does, however, remain an odds-on favorite to win the Oscar.

The other major winners at the BAFTAs were Roman Polanski's eloquent World War II drama "The Pianist," which scored best picture and director, and Daniel Day-Lewis, named best actor for Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York."

In the supporting categories, Catherine Zeta-Jones won best supporting actress for "Chicago" (which received one other BAFTA for best sound); and Christopher Walken for supporting actor in "Catch Me If You Can."

Zeta-Jones, 33, who is pregnant with her second child, said at the podium: "Oh my gosh! I'm very hormonal so please forgive anything I say, and if I cry, Marty please take me off the stage!" she said to Scorsese as he presented her award, Reuters reports.

Kidman, in a white, strapless silk dress, dedicated her award to her "Hours" costars, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore, who were also nominated.

"It is so lovely to share this with two really, really special women," Kidman said. "I divide it into three and we share it together."

Before the ceremony, on the red carpet, Kidman told reporters that she wasn't ready to assess her chances for the Oscar.

"I would never gamble on myself, so I don't know," she said. "I really don't know."