Press Releases

11 February 2008

Daniel Day-Lewis and Julie Christie won major awards tonight (08 February) at the 28th London Film Critics' Circle Awards, held in aid of the NSPCC, to continue their march to Oscar glory.

Daniel Day-Lewis won the Actor of the Year award for 'There Will Be Blood' while Julie Christie won the British Actress of the Year Award for 'Away From Her'. Overall 'Control' was the big winner on the night taking three awards - the Breakthrough Awards for Acting (Sam Riley) and Film Making (Anton Corbijn) as well as the prestigious Attenborough Film of the Year Award.

Epic British drama 'Atonement' came home with two awards - the British Actor of the Year Award for James McAvoy and Actress in a Supporting Role for Vanessa Redgrave, which in a surprise twist, was shared with Kelly Macdonald who also won for her role in 'No Country For Old Men'. French star Marion Cotillard took the award for Actress of the Year for her portrayal of singer Edith Piaf in 'La Vie en Rose'.

The overall Film of the Year went to 'No Country For Old Men' and there was also recognition for Hollywood blockbuster 'The Bourne Ultimatum' with Paul Greengrass taking the award for British Director of the Year. Foreign Language Film of the Year went to 'The Lives of Others'.

The Dilys Powell Award for outstanding contribution to cinema was presented to actress Julie Walters. Her work includes classic British comedy films Educating Rita, Billy Elliot and Calendar Girls. Julie Walters will soon be on screen in the eagerly anticipated film version of Mamma Mia.

Chairman of the London Film Critics' Circle, Marianne Gray said: "It has been another wonderful year for both British and international film and its actors. Daniel Day-Lewis is utterly convincing as a ruthless oil baron, while Julie Christie is extremely moving in her role as an Alzheimer's patient.

"I am particularly glad that the Critics' Circle have rewarded James McAvoy, one of Britain's leading young actors, and Julie Walters, who in many people's eyes is a national treasure."

The awards were hosted by broadcasters Mariella Frostrup and Paul Gambaccini at London's Grosvenor House Hotel and are the only film awards that raise money for charity.

End

NSPCC Media Office on 020 7825 7416 / 020 7825 2514

Full list of winners for the 28th Critics' Circle Film Awards:

Film of the Year
No Country For Old Men
Joel and Ethan Coen

Attenborough Film of the Year
Control
Anton Corbijn

Director of the Year
Paul Thomas Anderson
There Will Be Blood

British Director of the Year
Paul Greengrass
The Bourne Ultimatum

Actor of the Year
Daniel Day-Lewis
There Will Be Blood

Actress of the Year
Marion Cotillard
La Vie En Rose

British Actor of the Year
James McAvoy
Atonement

British Actress of the Year
Julie Christie
Away From Her

Actor in a Supporting Role
Tom Wilkinson
Michael Clayton

Actress in a Supporting Role
Kelly Macdonald
No Country For Old Men

Actress in a Supporting Role
Vanessa Redgrave
Atonement

Screenwriter of the Year
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
The Lives of Others

Breakthrough Award - Acting
Sam Riley
Control

Breakthrough Award - Film-making
Anton Corbijn
Control

Foreign Language Film of the Year
The Lives of Others
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Dilys Powell Award
Julie Walters

Notes to editors:

About the NSPCC
The NSPCC is the UK's leading children charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. The NSPCC's purpose is to end cruelty to children FULL STOP. Its vision is of a society where all children are loved, valued and able to fulfil their potential. The NSPCC runs 180 projects and services across the United Kingdom and Channel Islands, including ChildLine, the UK's free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people. The NSPCC helps over 10,000 children and their families every year.

About the Critics' Film Circle
The London Critics' Circle, the film section of the Critics' Circle, has over 100 members who write for newspapers and magazines published all over the United Kingdom. Many of whom also appear on national and local radio and television.