'Argo' wins best picture at BAFTA Awards

Iran-hostage drama "Argo" continued its journey from awards-season outsider to favorite Sunday, winning three prizes, including best picture, at the British Academy Film Awards.

Ben Affleck was named best director for the based-on-reality story of a long-shot plan to rescue a group of American diplomats from Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and the film also took the editing trophy.

Affleck, who has made a remarkable journey from little-regarded actor to award-winning director, dedicated his directing prize for "anyone out there who's trying to get their second act." George Clooney, a producer of "Argo," quipped: "I don't know what you're going to do for a third act."

Daniel Day-Lewis won his universally expected best-actor trophy for "Lincoln" -- the only prize out of 10 nominations for Steven Spielberg's historical biopic.