We’ve just received word that Britain’s own national treasure Emma Thompson is to receive the prestigious Richard Harris Award at this year’s Moet British Independent Film Awards. The top gong recognises outstanding contribution to British film by an actor, and has previously been won by the likes of John Hurt, David Thewlis, Bob Hoskins, Jim Broadbent, Daniel Day-Lewis, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon and Julie Walters just last year.
The awards are dished out on Sunday 7th December at a ceremony in central London. You can see the full list of nominees for this year’s awards here.
Here’s the full release.
London, Wednesday 19th November – The recipient of The Richard Harris Award was announced today by Johanna von Fischer and Tessa Collinson, joint Directors, The Moët British Independent Film Awards.
Emma Thompson will receive The Richard Harris Award at the ceremony on Sunday 7th December at Old Billingsgate.
The Richard Harris Award was introduced in 2002 in honour of Richard Harris and recognises outstanding contribution to British film by an actor. Previous winners have included, John Hurt, David Thewlis, Bob Hoskins, Jim Broadbent, Daniel Day-Lewis, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon and Julie Walters in 2013.
Emma Thompson is one of the world’s most respected talents for her versatility in acting as well as screenwriting. She is the sole artist thus far to have received an Academy Award for both acting and screenwriting.
Thompson commented: “I am so delighted to be receiving The Richard Harris Award at this year’s MBIFAs. It is a very special award, in name of an incredible actor who inspired so many people during his career. I am honoured to follow in the footsteps of my peers who have received this award before me, and look forward to celebrating a fantastic year of British independent filmmaking on 7th December.”
In 1992, Thompson caused a sensation with her portrayal of Margaret Schlegel in the Merchant Ivory adaptation of E.M. Forster’s HOWARDS END. Sweeping the Best Actress category wherever it was considered, the performance netted her a BAFTA Award, Los Angeles Film Critics Award, New York Film Critics Award, Golden Globe and Academy Award. She earned two Oscar nominations the following year for her work in The REMAINS OF THE DAY and IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER.
In 1995, Thompson’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, directed by Ang Lee, won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as well as the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay and Best Screenplay awards from the Writers Guild of America among others. For her performance in the film she was honored with a Best Actress award from BAFTA and nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. Her performance in Richard Curtis’ LOVE ACTUALLY earned Thompson Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2004 Evening Standard Film Awards, London Film Critics Circle Awards and Empire Film Awards, along with a BAFTA nomination. In 2013, Thompson’s moving portrayal of author ‘P.L. Travers’ in SAVING MR. BANKS earned her both the National Board of Review and Empire Best Actress Awards, along with Golden Globe, Broadcast Film Critics, SAG and BAFTA nominations.
Thompson completed filming this summer in Scotland on THE LONG MIDNIGHT OF BARNEY THOMSON opposite Robert Carlyle and Ray Winstone, and on director Ken Kwapis’ A WALK IN THE WOODS, opposite Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. She is also part of Jason Reitman’s MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN as well as the upcoming ADAM JONES, starring Bradley Cooper.
In March of this year, to the delight of both critics and audiences, she portrayed ‘Mrs. Lovett’ in the New York Philharmonic’s staged production of Stephen Sondheim’s SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET, opposite bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, in the title role. She and Terfel will reprise their roles, in a limited run at the London Coliseum with the English National Opera, for the ENO’s first ever season of musical theater, in March of 2015.
Thompson’s feature film debut came in 1988, starring opposite Jeff Goldblum in the comedy THE TALL GUY. Her other film credits include HENRY V; DEAD AGAIN; PETER’S FRIENDS; MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING; JUNIOR; CARRINGTON; THE WINTER GUEST; IMAGINING ARGENTINA; PRIMARY FICTION; STRANGER THAN FICTION; LAST CHANCE HARVEY (Golden Globe nomination as Best Actress); LOVE PUNCH; Pixar’s Academy Award-winning animated film, BRAVE, and MEN IN BLACK 3.
In 2010, she reprised the title role of the magical Nanny in NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS, for which she also wrote the screenplay and acted as an Executive Producer. Thompson created the character for the screen originally in 2004, in her own adaptation of NANNY MCPHEE, DIRECTED by Kirk Jones. In 2004, she brought to the screen JK Rowling’s character of Sybil Trelawney in HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, for director Alfonso Cuaron, and in 2007, she reprised the role in HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, for director David Yates.
As previously announced, Benedict Cumberbatch will receive The Variety Award at this year’s MBIFAs.
This year’s nominations were announced on 3rd November at St Martins Lane, London. The nominees for Best British Independent Film were ’71; CALVARY; MR TURNER; PRIDE and THE IMITATION GAME. Leading the charge this year is ’71 with nine nominations; PRIDE with seven nominations and CATCH ME DADDY; FRANK and MR TURNER with five nominations each.
Source: BIFA
