Oscar winning actress Olivia Colman has received the BFI Fellowship award and was presented with it by The Favourite director Yorgos Lanthimos.

Colman, who won her very first Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Anne in Lanthimos’ film at last month’s ceremony, has joined the likes of Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter and Martin Scorsese in receiving the BFI award.

Speaking at the annual BFI Chairman’s dinner, hosted by BFI Chair Josh Berger, Colman said, “I didn’t know what to expect this evening, turns out it’s a bit like a surprise birthday party… on the back of a lovely year.”

Lanthimos, who presented Colman with the award, added: “There isn’t an actor who can infuse each moment onscreen with such great humanity, drama and humour. No one can appear so fragile, magnetic, fierce, funny and real from one second to the next, or all at the same time.”

With big names like Bonham-Carter, David Tennant, Tobias Menzies, and more in attendance to celebrate, BFI Chair Berger said: “I am thrilled the BFI has given its highest honour, the BFI Fellowship, to Olivia Colman, at such an exciting point in her career. Olivia is a brilliant comic actor and one of the industry’s finest dramatic performers. Her ability to be relatable in such a diverse range of roles generates incredible warmth and admiration from audiences.

“The Favourite is firmly up there as one of the best films of recent years and showcases Olivia’s extraordinary and nuanced performance, which is fittingly being acknowledged by critics and audiences all over the world.”



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