hellomagazine.com

THANDIE NEWTON HONOURED BY LONDON CRITICS

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9 FEBRUARY 2006

The Tinseltown press is currently awash with reports that British actress Thandie Newton will play a ruthless femme fatale in the next Bond movie. On Wednesday night, however, the svelte beauty was being celebrated for rather more high-brow fare as she was honoured for her performance in the racially charged drama Crash.

It was at home in London that the 33-year-old enjoyed her moment of glory, after scooping the best supporting actress gong at the London Film Critics Circle Awards. The mum-of-two, who was looking elegant in an orange chiffon gown, was clearly delighted when her name was called out at the Dorchester Hotel event.

She was by no means the only English star to get the nod, though. Ralph Fiennes, who was unable to make it along to the prizegiving, was named best British actor for his role in The Constant Gardener, while his costar Rachel Weisz triumphed in the category for best British actress. The ceremony also proved a big night for Swiss performer Bruno Ganz, after he was named winner of the coveted best actor trophy for his intense portrayal of Adolf Hitler in Downfall.

With the build-up to next month's Oscars rapidly gathering pace, fans of Ang Lee will have been delighted to see his film picking up yet another accolade. The Taiwanese filmmaker's alternative love story Brokeback Mountain won out in both the best director and best film sections.

"It has all the ingredients of a classic love story, except that the lovers are two young ranch hands who fall in love one summer while herding sheep, but go on to marry and have children, while continuing to meet over the years," said the event's chairman William Russell. "Ang Lee has succeeded in presenting this highly controversial situation in an intelligent and sensitive fashion, and secured outstanding performances from the entire cast."