Before any BAFTAs -- the UK equivalent of the Oscars -- were handed out on Sun., Feb. 12, one actress was already upset with the academy.
"Captain America: The First Avenger" star Hayley Atwell deemed the industry sexist for failing to include any female nominees for Rising Star award, The Telegraph reported.
"There were girls on the longlist and I think it's really odd that girls haven't made it where guys have," 29-year-old Atwell told the British paper. "We'd hope that gender doesn't really come into it and it's about the body of work that they produce that year, but it seems that hasn't been the case."
The Rising Star award was introduced in memory of Mary Selway, a successful casting director who helped new actors and actresses get their big breaks, and is voted on by fans. In its six years, two actresses (Eva Green and Kristen Stewart) have earned the honor.
For the 2012 Rising Star award, the longlist included the year's breakout star Jessica Chastain (of "The Tree Of Life" and "The Help"), Felicity Jones ("Like Crazy") and the upcoming leading lady of "Hunger Games," Jennifer Lawrence. This is the first year that the shortlist doesn't include a female.
Kate Kinninmont, chief executive of the Women in Film and Television, told The Telegraph: "It's saddening to see that, of the women who made it onto the longlist, not one of them got through to the next level.
The nominees up for the award on Feb. 12 are:
- Adam Deacon ("Kidulthood," "Adulthood" and "Anuvahood")
- Chris Hemsworth ("Thor," "The Avengers" and "Snow White and the Hunstman")
- Chris O'Dowd ("Bridesmaids")
- Eddie Redmayne ("My Week With Marilyn")
- Tom Hiddleston ("War Horse")