Cate Blanchett never misses a step: the 44-year old actress won the BAFTA award for Best Actress, and dedicated her win to recently-deceased Philip Seymour Hoffman. Will Cate Blanchett's BAFTA win boost her ratings in the Oscar race as the Academy Awards draw near?

Cate Blanchett received the Best Actress award at this year's British Academy Film Awards in London for her portrayal of Jeanette 'Jasmine' Francis in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine.

Blanchett beat powerful contenders like Amy Adams (American Hustle), Emma Thompson (Saving Mr Banks), Judi Dench (Philomena) and Sandra Bullock (Gravity).

Panting as she accepted the award, Blanchett dedicated the accolade to the late Philip Seymour Hoffman and said in her speech:

"I would like to dedicate this to an actor who has been a continual, profound touchstone for me, a monumental presence who is now so sadly in absence: the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman."

"Phil, your monumental talent, your unflinching quest for truth both in art and in life will be missed by so many people,"

"Phil, buddy, this is for you, you bastard, hope you're proud."

Blanchett has swept the board at recent awards ceremonies, winning Golden Globe and Critics Choice awards. Her recent "good luck" would widely-tipped her to take home the Oscar for Best Actress in the Academy Awards on March 2. It was in 2005 that Blanchett won an Academy Award for her Best Supporting Actress role in The Aviator.

Blanchett didn't name Woody Allen specifically in her acceptance speech but rather thanked "everyone'' that made Blue Jasmine "so memorable and such a game-changer for me''.

Blanchett has reportedly been keen to avoid questions about recent sexual abuse accusations directed at Allen by his adopted daughter Dylan with ex-partner Mia Farrow.