Baftas to include Dame Shirley Bassey in big Bond 60th birthday celebration

The legendary Welsh singer will take the stage next weekend at the Royal Albert Hall to sing one of her signature tunes as Bond’s historic birthday is about to be honored

Dame Shirley Bassey’s explosive voice is set to help bring the upcoming BAFTAs to life as the star is to perform one of her Bond-themed classics as part of the awards ceremony.

Event organizers are hoping the 2022 event will be bigger and better than ever after being forced to resort to a Zoom-based affair last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

And Dame Shirley, 85, is set to be a jewel in the crown of the night’s events – which take place on Sunday March 13 at the Royal Albert Hall – as she takes the stage to sing one of her signature Bond songs to mark 60 years of the spy-themed franchise.

Dame Shirley has performed three of the previous Bond themes – Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker – but show insiders are keeping their own mouths firmly shut on which songs the Welsh wonder will perform on the night.

A source told The Sun: ‘After being forced to hold the ceremony live last year, Baftas Film is doing everything it can to ensure this ceremony is the most star-studded ever.’

They went on to explain that a host of other big-name stars will be attending the evening – with Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner, Bridgerton’s Rege-Jean Page, Harry Potter star Emma Watson, acting icon Sienna Miller and Star Wars star Daisy Edgar-Jones were all scheduled to participate.

The source added excitedly, “Millie Bobby Brown is also flying in from the US to be a presenter and will join Sebastian Stan and Daniel Kaluuya on stage. It will be a night to remember.”

It has already been revealed that American singer and actress Lady Gaga will be traveling to the UK to take part in the event – both as a presenter and potential winner.

The 35-year-old star is up for the Best Actress in a Leading Role gong for her starring role as Patrizia Reggiani in the biographical drama House of Gucci.

Gaga will present the EE RIsigin Star Award – which will see Lashana Lynch, Millicent Simmonds, Harris Dickinson, Ariana DeBose or Kodi Smit-McPhee take home the award.

Gaga’s own performance in House of Gucci has split some fans and critics – while the singer herself has spoken of the tension she’s felt remaining in the character of the murderous businesswoman throughout the nine months of shooting the film.

She explained that she would find herself throwing up from “anxiety, fatigue, trauma, exhaustion, commitment and love” during her performance.

She also explained that the immersive performance took a toll on her mental health, telling Variety last year, “I had a psychiatric nurse with me toward the end of filming.

“I kind of felt like I had to do it. I felt like it was safer for me. It’s because I’ve always been Patrizia.

“I have always spoken with my accent. And even though I was talking about things that had nothing to do with the film — I wasn’t claiming that Maurizio [her husband played by Adam Driver] was waiting for me downstairs – I was still living my life. I just experienced it like her.

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