BAFTA Betting From Sky Bet: 'The Artist' Favourite to Silence the Competition

LONDON, January 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Following the announcement of BAFTA nominations on Wednesday, leading online betting firm Sky Bet has installed Golden Globe winner 'The Artist' as odds-on favourite to win best film after it received a dozen nominations.

British espionage thriller 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy', which picked up eleven nods from BAFTA but was overlooked by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, is 4/1 second favourite in the best film betting.

Having picked up three Golden Globes on Sunday, 'The Artist' looks set to sweep the board this season and Sky Bet make its helmsman Michel Hazanavicius even money favourite to be named best director by BAFTA. The only Briton shortlisted for best director is Glasgow-born film-maker Lynne Ramsay, who is 12/1 to win for 'We Need To Talk About Kevin.'

'The Artist' was also recognized in the acting categories, although Sky Bet make Golden Globe victor George Clooney hot favourite to take home the best actor gong for his performance in The Descendants.

Representing 'The Artist' in the best actress category is Berenice Bejo but Sky Bet makes her a 16/1 outsider, with Meryl Streep the very short-priced favourite at 2/7 to scoop a BAFTA for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in 'The Iron Lady'. Michelle Williams looks to be the only real competition to Streep at 7/2

Sky Bet spokesman Joseph Seager said: "Whilst 'The Artist' is odds-on to take the best film gong I see massive value in the 5/1 for Alexander Payne's 'The Descendants'. I would also love to see Gary Oldman and Michelle Williams awarded for their performances, but it's difficult to look past the favourites in all categories."

The BAFTAs will be held in London on Sunday 12^th February.

Sky Bet Odds:

Orange Wednesday Rising Star Award

Tom Hiddleston 13/8 Adam Deacon 5/2 Chris O'Dowd 3/1 Chris Hemsworth 4/1 Eddie Redmayne 11/2

Best Picture

The Artist 2/5 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 4/1 The Descendants 5/1 The Help 12/1 Drive 16/1 

Best Director

Michel Hazanavicius evens Martin Scorcese 6/4 Tomas Alfredson 11/2 Nicholas Winding Refn 7/1 Lynne Ramsay 12/1  

Best Actor

George Clooney 8/13 Gary Oldman 5/2 Jean Dujardin 7/2 Michael Fassbender 12/1 Brad Pitt 12/1

Best Actress

Meryl Streep 2/7 Viola Davis 5/1 Michelle Williams 6/1 Tilda Swinton 16/1 Berenice Bejo 16/1

To bet on the BAFTAs with Sky Bet, click here

About Sky Bet

Sky Bet is the sports and footall betting division of Sky Betting and Gaming, a wholly owned subsidiary of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (Sky). One of the country's leading betting and gaming companies, Sky Bet is based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Sky Bet does not accept customers from the USA and operates fully within UK law under a licence issued by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission. Sky Bet offers an online sports betting service and boasts a recently enhanced mobile platform, Sky Bet Mobile. Customers can also bet through their TV or by telephone.

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SOURCE Sky Bet