Dame Maggie Smith claimed her Evening Standard British Film Awards win was proof "very old" actresses can still land great roles.
The 81-year-old screen legend picked up the Best Actress prize for her role in ‘The Lady in the Van’ and quashed talk of ageism in the movie industry.
She said: "See there are parts for older actress. Even parts for very, very old actors. I’d like to say straight off.. there wasn’t a blade of prosthetics."
Maggie also admitted she was very fond of her character and enjoyed making the movie.
She said: "She was a funny old thing but that’s how we get to be. I think I’m older than she was. It was a great experience."
Elsewhere at tonight’s ceremony (07.02.16), which took place at the Television Centre in west London, the movie’s writer, Alan Bennett, 81, was honoured with a Special Award.
Accepting the prize, he said: "These lifetime achievement awards are really a sharp nudge in the direction of the grave. I think I might have a bit more to so but until then thanks very much ."
Idris Elba beat off competition from Michael Fassbender and Tom Courtenay to scoop the Best Actor accolade for his performance in ‘Beasts of No Nation’ and was stunned by his win.
He said: "Thanks you so much, I’m star struck. I haven’t prepared a speech so I’m going to speak from the heart…. Arsenal did well today. But seriously, everyone here is really genuine and loving."
‘Game of Thrones’ actress Maisie Williams won the Rising Star award.
The 18-year-old star told the audience at the Television Centre in west London: "It was so wonderful to get into this career and to know you’re doing a good job is really, really lovely."
‘Brooklyn’ was named Best Film, and ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ won the Glass Award for Blockbuster of the Year, and Anthony Daniels – who plays C3PO – accepted the honour, apologising for not wearing his robotic suit.
He said: "This is probably the first and last time I will win an award. So I’m going to make the most of it."
Evening Standard British Film Awards list of winners:
Best Screenplay:
Emma O’Donoghue, ‘Room’
Technical Achievement:
Mark Digby, ‘Ex Machina’
Award for Comedy:
Emma Thompson, ‘The Legend of Barney Thomson’
Best Documentary:
‘Amy’
Rising Star:
Maisie Williams
Glass Award for Blockbuster of the Year:
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’
Best Actor:
Idris Elba, ‘Beasts of No Nation’
Best Actress:
Maggie Smith, ‘The Lady in the Van’
Best Film in partnership with Television Centre:
‘Brooklyn’
Editor’s Award:
’45 Years’
Maggie Smith celebrates success as older actress
