Dame Shirley Bassey kicked off the Baftas last night with a stunning performance of an iconic James Bond song—and let's just say, we're still reeling from the experience.
The Welsh singer's incredible vocals captivated viewers of the 75th BAFTA 2022 awards at London's Royal Albert Hall on Sunday evening, prefacing host Rebel Wilson's opening monologue with her rendition of the 1971 Bond theme song, Diamonds are Forever.
Shirley, 85, is well-known for her contribution to the 007 franchise, holding the prestigious title as the only artist to have recorded multiple tracks for the popular series. Along with Diamonds are Forever, she also boasts the lungs behind the theme songs for the third Bond film, Goldfinger, and the eleventh installment, Moonraker.
According to the annual show's organizers, Shirley had been chosen as the opening act in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the film franchise.
An unforgettable way to open the show as we celebrate 60 years of Bond! Thank you Dame @ShirleyBassey ❤️ #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/bteRQYNWi8March 13, 2022
The music legend wore a gold sequined dress—complete with a dramatic cape—to belt out the iconic ballad, teaming the glitzy outfit with drop earrings and her signature, cropped brown hair. Her final note was met with rapturous applause from the star-studded audience, with A-listers (like Lady Gaga) rising to their feet in appreciation of the Cardiff native's talent.
Fans were also quick to praise the British superstar online, with many taking to Twitter to share their thoughts on the spectacular performance.
"Dame Shirley Bassey. 85 years young and her voice can still take the roof off a venue. Icon!" one impressed viewer wrote.
"Shirley Bassey singing at the BAFTAs tonight has made my year. 85 years old pulling off a performance like that, looking and sounding sensational, my heart is full," another person commented.
The latest Bond film, No Time to Die, received five nominations at the Baftas 2022— including Best Editing, Best British Film, Best Sound, Best Special Visual Effects, and Best Cinematography. Unfortunately, it lost out in four of these categories, only landing the prize for Best Editing.
British actress Lashana Lynch, 34, also won the Rising Star Award for her portrayal of Nomi alongside Daniel Craig in the 2021 thriller.
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