You are here

BAFTA and Andy Gotts MBE to Exhibit ‘Behind The Mask’ Photography

11 December 2013
Thandie Newton & Robert De Niro photographed by Andy Gotts.

Biggest collection of BAFTA-winning actor portraiture ever assembled to take over entire west wing of Somerset House. Exhibition images to be projected onto BAFTA HQ over weekend of Film Awards.

London, 11 December 2013: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has today announced that its new photography exhibition, entitled ’Behind the Mask’, will exhibit at Somerset House, London from 20 January to 7 February 2014. Some of the exhibit will then move to BAFTA 195 Piccadilly from 9 February up until 16 February, the date of the EE British Academy Film Awards, as well as Asprey London, venue of the Awards’ Official Nominees Party.

‘Behind the Mask’ is a BAFTA Future Archive collaboration with renowned photographer Andy Gotts MBE, a celebrity photographer for 23 years specialising in actors’ portraits, who together have produced ‘Behind The Mask’, a photographic census of over one hundred international actors and actresses to have won or been nominated for a BAFTA since 1954.

The project has been over two years in the making and seen Gotts travelling across the globe in order to photograph subjects including Lauren Bacall, Jeff Bridges, Daniel Day-Lewis, Al Pacino, John Hurt, Sidney Poitier and Tilda Swinton.

In addition to the two exhibitions, BAFTA will project every image from the series onto the façade of its headquarters at 195 Piccadilly, London during the weekend of the EE British Academy Film Awards (15 and 16 February 2014) as part of an art commission supported by luxury watch brand 88 Rue Du Rhone.

All works are available for sale in limited editions of 25, with 60% of the proceeds going to BAFTA to support its year-round charitable work.

Andy Gotts MBE said: “Even though I have been given the title 'celebrity photographer' I have always seen myself as a photographer of actors. I have always been a movie buff and getting the opportunity to meet my matinée idols is beyond a dream come true. I specialize in character studies of the face and try to show a new and different side of world famous faces in my ‘warts and all’ style.”

Anna Allalouf, curator at BAFTA, said: “This is a show of historical importance as the first of its kind to document the many fine actors who have won or been nominated for a BAFTA since 1954 and is a unique celebration of the EE British Academy Film Awards. BAFTA's Future Archive will continue to champion and commission photography from both established and upcoming photographers to document and pay tribute to all aspects of the moving image.”

‘Behind the Mask’ has been made possible by the generous support of the Ruhan Arts Foundation.

The Somerset House exhibition is free to enter and open to the public from 10am to 6pm, daily.


Further Information

For further information, please contact Jo Fernihough at Freuds:
T 020 3003 6386
E [email protected]

For Somerset House enquiries, please contact:

Stephanie Lilley, Acting Head of Press
T 0207 845 4638
E [email protected]


About BAFTA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round Learning & Events programme that offers unique access to some of the world’s most inspiring talent through workshops, masterclasses, lectures and mentoring schemes, connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds across the UK, Los Angeles and New York. BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. For further information, visit www.bafta.org or www.bafta.org/guru.


About Andy Gotts

Andy Gotts MBE MA is a photographer based in London, England and New York. He is most noted for his black and white portraits of Hollywood actors and singers. Since 1990 Gotts' work has been published internationally and has appeared in many magazines, including; GQ, Empire, FHM, Total Film, Stern, French Vogue, Glamour, El Mundo, OK Salute!, Marie Claire, io Donna; as well as weekend newspaper supplements and advertising campaigns. The National Portrait Gallery holds a selection of his photographs in their permanent collection and in 2009 Gotts was honoured with the presentation of the Fox Talbot Award. In 2011 Gotts was conferred the degree Doctor of Arts by De Montfort University and he is a former President of the British Institute of Professional Photographers. 2012 saw Gotts appointed MBE in the New Years Honours. Gotts is noted for his magnum opus 'Degrees'. This was a coffee table book and exhibitions inspired by the game, the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.www.andygotts.com


About Somerset House

Somerset House is a spectacular neo-classical building in the heart of London, sitting between the Strand and the River Thames. Since opening to the public in 2000, Somerset House has produced a distinctive public programme that annually draws over 2 million visitors to the site, providing a stimulating environment for exploration and relaxation. The varied, year-round programme includes an open air film and concert season and ice rink, as well as temporary exhibitions focusing on contemporary fashion,
design, art and architecture, family workshops and free guided tours. In September 2009, Somerset House became the new home of London Fashion Week.