Cate Blanchett among stars wearing ribbons in solidarity with refugees at Baftas

Cate Blanchett, Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis were among the stars wearing a blue ribbon at the Bafta film awards to show their solidarity and support for refugees and displaced people around the world.

Colin Farrell, Daryl McCormack, Paul Mescal, Bill Nighy and Angela Bassett were also among the nominees spotted with the #WithRefugees ribbon on the red carpet ahead of the awards ceremony.

The United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR, invited the famous faces to wear the ribbon as an “emblem of compassion and solidarity” for those who have been forced to flee their homes because of war, conflict, and persecution.

Blanchett is a goodwill ambassador for the UNHCR as well as actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini.

It comes after the recent earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria killed an estimated 44,000 while countless have been displaced.

Themes of displacement, separation and loss are present in many of the films nominated this awards season including The Swimmers, which is based on the story of Mardini and her sister Sara Mardini, which is up for outstanding British film.

The blue #WithRefugees ribbon initiative was launched at the Bafta film awards on Sunday, with the intention to send a “powerful visual message that everyone has the right to seek safety, whoever, wherever, whenever”.