Idris Elba and Dame Maggie Smith scoop top gongs and Brooklyn has been named film of the year at the London Evening Standard British Film Awards.
It was a good night for Idris Elba and Dame Maggie Smith who walked away with the top awards at the London Evening Standard British Film Awards and BROOKLYN was declared the best film.
The award ceremony was held at the BBC’s former Television Centre in London on Sunday evening and were hosted by TV presenter Simon Amstell and many took to the event including nominees Elba and Tom Courtenay, Tuppence Middleton, Stanley Tucci, Matthew Perry and Vanessa Redgrave.
Idris Elba was named best actor for BEASTS OF NO NATION pipping contenders Tom Courtenay and Michael Fassbender to the post, while Dame Maggie Smith was named best actress for THE LADY IN THE VAN beating Emily Blunt, Charlotte Rampling and Saoirse Ronan to be be crowned for her role as Miss Shepherd. Elba was presented with his best actor award by Vanessa Redgrave for his film role in the emotional BEASTS OF NO NATION for its harsh exploration of child soldiering in West Africa and Elba plays the charismatic but ruthless commandant of a boys’ army.
The LUTHER actor is also nominated for best supporting actor at the BAFTAs on February 14th and it will be interesting to see if he repeats the same success there. Dame Maggie is also up for a BAFTA in the best actress category for THE LADY IN THE VAN.
The film, written by Alan Bennett, is a tragi-comic portrayal of an eccentric homeless woman whom Bennett befriended in the 1970s before allowing her to park her van in the drive of his London home.
Dame Maggie picked up her Evening Standard accolade from the theatre director David Hare. This is the fourth time Dame Maggie has been recognised by the Evening Standard awards in the best actress category. She first won 37 years ago for CALIFORNIA SUITE.
BROOKLYN was the big film winner on the night, which stars Saoirse Ronan in the story of a young Irish girl who goes to the US to seek a new life. The endearing film has been a regular nominee during the awards season and it beat favourite to win, 45 YEARS starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay.
BROOKLYN has also been nominated for best British film at the Baftas and Ronan is up for the best actress BAFTA and Oscar. She will looking to add another accolade to her collection after winning the best actress award at the British Independent Film Awards.
The film is based on the novel by Irish writer Colm Toibin and has been adapted for the big screen by ABOUT A BOY screenwriter Nick Hornby, who is also up for an Oscar and a BAFTA.
Other winners on the night were novelist Emma Donoghue for her big screen adaptation of her Booker-nominated bestseller ROOM, which is up for four Oscars including best film.
Emma Thompson won the award for best comedy performance for THE LEGEND OF BARNEY THOMPSON and GAME OF THRONES’ Maisie Williams was named the year’s Rising Star for her performance in THE FALLING.
And other winners in the film categories were box office smash STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, which won Blockbuster of the Year, and AMY took the Best Documentary award.
Here is a the winners list in full:
Best Film
Brooklyn
Best Actor
Idris Elba – Beasts of No Nation
Best Actress
Dame Maggie Smith – The Lady in the Van
Best Documentary
Amy
Blockbuster of the Year
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Editor’s Award
45 Years
Best Screenplay
Emma Donaghue – Room
Rising Star
Maisie Williams – The Falling
Comedy Award
Emma Thompson – The Legend of Barney Thomson
Technical Achievement
Mark Digby – production designer, Ex-Machina
Outstanding Contribution
Alan Bennett
