Well, it’s over. The 2006 Sony Ericsson Empire Awards swung harder than Louis Armstrong on a waltzer tonight and, when the smoke cleared, Episode III and Pride And Prejudice had each scooped two awards, while King Kong landed the big prize of Best Film.
Thandie Newton followed her BAFTA triumph with the Best Actress award for her turn in Crash, while Johnny Depp hooked Best Actor from Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. Nick Park and Steve Box won Best Director for their Oscar-winning success, Wallace And Gromit: The Curse Of The Were Rabbit.
Tony Curtis’ ‘The Persuaders’ co-star Roger Moore presented him with the Empire Lifetime Achievement Award. The screen legend, whose seven decade career had highlights with Spartacus and Some Like It Hot among other greats, received a standing ovation and was, quite understandably, deeply moved by the honour.
Stephen Frears was also honoured, winning the Inspiration Award for a career that has been stuffed full of variety and included My Beautiful Laundrette, Dirty Pretty Things and, most recently, Mrs Henderson Presents. The Harry Potter films were likewise bestowed with an honorary award for their contribution to cinema, which was gratefully received by producer David Heyman and stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
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The winners in full:
Best Newcomer
Leo Gregory (Stoned)
Kelly Reilly (Mrs. Henderson Presents/Pride & Prejudice)
Georgie Henley (The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe)
James McAvoy (The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe)
Nathan Fillion (Serenity)
Sony Ericsson Scene Of The Year
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit — ‘The Dogfight’
War Of The Worlds — ‘The Arrival’
The Descent — ‘The Attack Of The Crawlers’
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith — ‘The Birth Of Vader’
Crash — ‘The Car Rescue’
Best Comedy
The Wedding Crashers
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy
The League Of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse
Team America: World Police
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit
Best Thriller
The Constant Gardener
Sin City
Batman Begins
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
A History Of Violence
Best Horror
The Skeleton Key
The Descent
Land Of The Dead
Wolf Creek
Best Sci-fi / Fantasy
King Kong
Serenity
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
Best Director
Steven Spielberg — War Of The Worlds
Peter Jackson — King Kong
Christopher Nolan — Batman Begins
Ron Howard — Cinderella Man
Nick Park and Steve Box — Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit
Joe Wright — Pride & Prejudice
Best Actor
Christian Bale — Batman Begins
Johnny Depp — Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
Andy Serkis — King Kong
Matt Dillon— Crash
Viggo Mortensen — A History Of Violence
Best Actress
Naomi Watts — King Kong
Keira Knightley — Pride & Prejudice
Thandie Newton — Crash
Renée Zellweger – Cinderella Man
Hilary Swank — Million Dollar Baby
Best British Movie
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit
The Descent
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy
Pride & Prejudice
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
Stoned
Best Film
King Kong
War Of The Worlds
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith
Crash
Sin City