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Liz Hobday

Boy Swallows Universe devours Aussie screen awards

Boy Swallows Universe star Felix Cameron has won the AACTA award for best lead actor in a drama. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe has won another six gongs at Australia's version of the Golden Globes, the AACTA Awards.

Felix Cameron, 15, won best lead actor in a drama, to add to the brace of Logies he has already taken home for his starring role as the young Eli Bell.

"It's pretty heavy this one, actually," he said, hefting the AACTA Award statue.

Phoebe Tonkin also took out best lead actress in a drama for her role as Eli's mother.

"Making Boy Swallows Universe has been one of the best experiences of my life, it has changed my life," she said.

The show also claimed best supporting actor for Lee Tiger Halley and best supporting actress for Deborah Mailman, adding up to a grand total of 12 awards following an industry gala night Wednesday.

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards was held at the Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast on Friday, where earlier in the night Australia's screen stars walked the red carpet - and Robbie Williams turned up too.

The British pop star got a standing ovation for a rendition of his hit Angels, and his biopic Better Man picked up four more AACTA Awards, including best film, taking its total to nine.

Jonno Davies won best lead actor in film for his portrayal of Williams - as a motion-capture monkey, with motion capture performances and voice acting recognised at the AACTAs for the first time.

Sarah Snook won best lead actress in film and Jacki Weaver won best supporting actress for their voice work in Adam Elliot's animated tragicomedy feature, Memoir Of A Snail.

Better Man
The Robbie Williams biopic Better Man was recognised at the AACTA awards.

One gong that will be going straight to the pool room is the AACTA Longford Lyell Award, for advancing excellence in screen culture.

It went to production outfit Working Dog, which has been behind a string of classic comedies over more than 30 years, including The Castle, Frontline, The Dish and Utopia.

Kitty Flanagan won best acting in a comedy for her show Fisk, which also took out best narrative comedy series.

Musician Paul Kelly was recognised with an outstanding contribution award, and played his classic song How To Make Gravy, which inspired a film directed by Nick Waterman.

Heartbreak High was awarded best drama series, Hard Quiz won best comedy entertainment program, and it almost goes without saying that global hit show Bluey won best children's program.

The 2025 AACTA Award Winners:

FILM

* Best Film: Better Man 

* Best Lead Actress in Film: Sarah Snook – Memoir Of A Snail

* Best Lead Actor in Film: Jonno Davies – Better Man

* Best Supporting Actress in Film: Jacki Weaver – Memoir Of A Snail

* Best Supporting Actor in Film: Damon Herriman – Better Man

* Best Direction in Film: Better Man – Michael Gracey

TELEVISION

* Best Drama Series: Heartbreak High 

* Best Miniseries: Boy Swallows Universe 

* Best Narrative Comedy Series: Fisk 

* Best Lead Actress in a Drama: Phoebe Tonkin – Boy Swallows Universe

* Best Lead Actor in a Drama: Felix Cameron – Boy Swallows Universe

* Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Deborah Mailman – Boy Swallows Universe

* Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: Lee Tiger Halley – Boy Swallows Universe

* Best Acting in a Comedy: Kitty Flanagan – Fisk

* Best Children’s Program: Bluey 

* Best Stand-Up Special: Anne Edmonds - Why Is My Bag All Wet? 

* Best Comedy Entertainment Program: Hard Quiz 

* Best Factual Entertainment Program: Muster Dogs

* Best Reality Program: MasterChef Australia

* Best Screenplay in Television: Boy Swallows Universe 

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