BAFTA Awards' Secret for Securing Hollywood A-Listers: 'Phone Bashing'

4:39 PM PST 2/12/2011 by Mimi Turner

Tricks of the trade from ceremony honcho Amanda Berry, plus memorable moments from Russell Crowe and Mickey Rourke.

As chief executive, Amanda Berry is credited with transforming BAFTA from a moribund institution into a charitable organization with teeth. Under her watch and alongside BAFTA vp Duncan Kenworthy, the Orange British Academy Film Awards has become a world-class trophy ceremony. On the eve of the 2011 edition, Berry spoke about the BAFTAs’ influence on the Oscars, getting A-listers to come to London and dealing with last-minute snafus.