Emma Thompson revealed how her hair had been carefully sculpted into an elegant quiff for her appearance at the Moet British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs).

The 55-year-old actress and writer looked super stylish as she accepted the Richard Harris award for outstanding contribution by an actor to British film dressed in a billowing blue silk mini dress and stiletto heels, with her Blonde crop moulded into a full-bodied quiff.

Emma revealed: “A lovely German hairdresser called Sven created this in my kitchen this afternoon. With only the help of a cup of tea and two Stollen bites.”

Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson (Joel Ryan/Invision)

The Saving Mr Banks star had joked when accepting the award that she apologised for all the times she has worked on studio productions.

But backstage she revealed: “Actually working on film in any situation is pretty similar. Yeah, you probably get a bigger trailer. It’s true about tiny little trailers that schuggle every time somebody else gets into them. But generally speaking, if you’re working with the right sort of people – people who really want to make movies and who have got a passion for it – the road is very similar.”

Maxine Peake
Maxine Peake (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Maxine Peake, who presented an award with In The Club star Christine Bottomley, was also sporting a stylish quiff.

Christine Bottomley
Christine Bottomley (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The party was full of glamorous screen stars including Dame Helen Mirren in a slinky black lace number, Keira Knightley in a white fur-trimmed frock and Olivia Colman with a gold feather in her hair.

Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley (David Jensen/EMPICS)
Olivia Colman
Olivia Colman (David Jensen/EMPICS)

Gugu MBatha-Raw accepted the award for Best Actress for her starring role in period drama Belle, the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral, raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield who as Lord Chief Justice helped end slavery in England.

Gugu admitted her gold-embroidered Oscar de la Renta dress coordinated well with the sparkly gong.

Gugu MBatha-Raw
Gugu MBatha-Raw (David Jensen/EMPICS)

She said of winning: “It feels amazing. I was so shocked and surprised and breathless and excited, and it’s a real honour. It’s the first award I’ve ever won, it’s my first lead role ina film so it feels very special.”

Swedish actress Alicia Vikander was nominated for Best Actress for her starring role in the big screen adaptation of Vera Brittain’s memoir Testament of Youth documenting her experiences of the First World War and the men in her life who she lost.

Alicia – looking effortlessly cool in black cargo pants with gold boots and a sequinned blouse – admitted she is starting to feel like Britain is her second home.

Alicia Vikander
Alicia Vikander (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The Anna Karenina star said: “Just being nominated is ab ig honour. Because I bought a flat in London last year and I was away fro a few months working and I landed at Heathrow two days ago and I really felt like I’m back home. So I’m starting to feel very comfortable in London.”