THE ARTIST CONTINUES its sweep of the 2012 awards season as it picked up seven gongs at last night’s BAFTAs.

The French homage to old Hollywood was named best film, while Jean Dujardin and Michel Hazanavicius received top honours in the lead actor and director categories.

The silent movie was also recognised for its cinematography, music and costume design, as well as its original screenplay.

Unsurprisingly, Meryl Streep too continued her winning ways, picking up yet another award for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

En route to collect the golden face, Streep lost her stiletto but romantic hero Colin Firth was on hand to act as her Prince Charming.

On eventually making it to the microphone, Streep spoke of how proud she was of her latest movie.

The ambition of this film was to look at the life of the Iron Lady from the inside out, and to locate something real – maybe hidden but truthful – in the life of someone we’ve all decided we know everything about already.”

It was a special night for director Martin Scorsese as he was was honoured with an Academy Fellowship, as well as two awards for his own homage to early cinema, Hugo.

Often seen as a prelude to the Oscars, plenty of stars braved the London cold for the event at the Royal Opera House. However, with plenty of black, white and nudes on offer from the women, the red carpet was certainly not as bright and glitzy as it will be in Hollywood on 26 February.