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John Hurt honoured at Evening Standard British Film Awards

Feb 7, 2012, 10:01 GMT

John Hurt and his wife Anna Reese Myers arriving at the awards

John Hurt won the Alexander Walker Special Award for Contribution to Cinema at the London Evening Standard British Film Awards last night (06.02.12).

The 72-year-old actor was honoured with the special prize for his four-decade career in the industry, which has seen him star in a number of acclaimed films including 'Alien', 'The Elephant Man', 'Hellboy and most recently 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'.

He was presented with his accolade by 'My Beautiful Laundrette' director Stephen Frears at the ceremony which was held at the London Film Museum and hosted by 'Green Wing' star Stephen Mangan.

Speaking about the award, Hurt said: 'I have had them before but I always thought I was a little bit too young, but I suppose when you've gone past 70 you can't really say you're too young.

'I feel very flattered, I feel very honoured, and I don't feel that I deserve it. I really don't.

'I'm really not that modest. I can be horribly arrogant. But I don't know what makes one deserve something like that, but I'm enormously respectful of the kindness of the people who decided to give it to me.'

Hurt is also due to collect the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at the BAFTAs on Sunday (12.02.12).

Elsewhere, Michael Fassbender won the Best Actor gong, beating off competition from Oscar-nominated star Gary Oldman and 'War Horse' actor Tom Hiddleston to take home the accolade for his portrayal of a sex addict in drama movie 'Shame' and his role of Edward Rochester in 'Jane Eyre'.

Lynne Ramsay's 'We Need To Talk About Kevin' was named Best Film, while 'Tyrannosaur' star Olivia Coleman's overcame Oscar winners Vanessa Redgrave, Rachel Weisz and Tilda Swinton to triumph in the Best Actress category.

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2' won the People's Choice Award for helping to put British film in the headlines around the world.

However, the evening did not go without a hitch and at one stage Hurt, Coleman and the other star-studded guests were left standing in the cold after they had to be evacuated from the venue following a fire alarm during the champagne reception.

London Evening Standard British Film Awards, full list of winners:

BEST FILM presented by Sophie Okonedo:

'We Need to Talk About Kevin', Lynne Ramsay

BEST ACTOR presented by Elizabeth McGovern:

Michael Fassbender

BEST ACTRESS presented by Matt Smith:

Olivia Colman

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMERS presented by Warwick Davis:

Tom Kingsley & Will Sharpe, co-writers and directors of 'Black Pond'

PETER SELLERS AWARD FOR COMEDY presented by Clemence Poesy :

'The Guard'

BEST DOCUMENTARY presented by Noel Fielding:

'Senna', Asif Kapadia

BEST SCREENPLAY presented by Alexandra Roach:

Andrew Haigh, 'Weekend'

LONDON FILM MUSEUM AWARD FOR TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT presented by Ruth Negga:

Robbie Ryan for his cinematography of 'Wuthering Heights'

ALEXANDER WALKER SPECIAL AWARD presented by Stephen Frears:

John Hurt for his contribution to cinema

BLOCKBUSTER OF THE YEAR, PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD for helping put British film in the headlines around the world:

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2'