2005 Sony Ericsson Empire Awards Winners!

It may have been a sleepy Sunday night in March for most of you but for a host of lucky stars and many assembled guests, tonight was something far more exciting. It was the 10th annual Sony Ericsson Empire Awards and anyone who's anyone was present to watch these coveted gongs handed out. Nestled in the great hall of London's Guildhall, this year's Sony Ericsson Empire Awards was a step up from the usual digs with Hogwarts-esque crypts and passageways populated by stars in shimmering ballgowns as they laughed, held court and knocked back magnums of free champagne. When the show kicked off, introduced by this year's host, the remarkably funny Johnny Vaughan, it was with much anxious anticipation that the best of last year's filmmakers and performers waited to find out if they had been judged worthy by the most important jury of all - the Empire readers. The Bourne Supremacy emerged as unstoppable as its amnesiac protagonist with Matt Damon sweeping the Best Actor gong for his arse-kicking turn as Jason Bourne and Paul Greengrass joining his star to accept the award for Best Film. On the British front Shaun of the Dead stormed to the fore with an extremely well-deserved win for Best British Film. Director Edgar Wright was joined by stars Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield and producer Nira Park as he took to the stage to accept the gong and shower heartfelt thanks upon the Empire readership. Julie Delpy proved a popular choice, taking Best Actress for Before Sunset, while perennial fave Kate Winslet landed Best British Actress once again, this time for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Dead Man's Shoes' Paddy Considine took Best British Actor while Matthew Vaughn completed Blighty's winners with a nod for Best British Director. Vaughn couldn't be there in person (though he did turn up later on) but sent his missus, the lovely Claudia Schiffer, to accept the honour in his stead. Sam Raimi - absent in body but not in spirit - took best director for Spider-Man 2 but the most popular win saw young Freddie Highmore rise above Zach Braff, Bryce Dallas Howard, Matthew Vaughn and Sienna Miller to scoop Best Newcomer for Finding Neverland. The evening's special awards saw Pixar, Working Title, Kevin Smith (who managed to fit more cock jokes into his acceptance speech than any previous winner) and the inimitable Quentin Tarantino duly honoured for their contributions to cinema. And as the lucky winners lovingly cradled their eight-by-ten pieces of machine-engraved perspex, everyone retired to the buffet room to feast themselves on the free food. Sadly for some they left their goodie bags unattended and came back to find them stolen by sticky-fingered opportunists but what's a few bottles of shampoo and a couple of DVDs between friends? Read on for the full list of winners and check back later for video footage, pictures, the winners' speeches and more. Best Newcomer Freddie Highmore Finding Neverland Best British Actress Kate Winslet Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind Best British Actor Paddy Considine Dead Man's Shoes Best British Director Matthew Vaughn Layer Cake Best British Film Shaun Of The Dead Outstanding Contribution To British Cinema Working Title Sony Ericsson Scene Of The Year The Balloon Sequence Enduring Love Best Actress Julie Delpy Before Sunset Best Actor Matt Damon The Bourne Supremacy Inspiration Award Pixar Best Director Sam Raimi Spider-Man 2 Best Film The Bourne Supremacy Independent Spirit Award Kevin Smith Icon Of The Decade Quentin Tarantino Click here for our complete 2005 Sony Ericsson Empire Awards coverage.