John Hurt - Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema

26 January 12

Billy Bob Thornton presented Hurt with the Award at the BAFTA ceremony on 12 February 2012. Watch the ceremony clip of Hurt accepting the award followed by an exclusive backstage interview in which he talks about the honour with Zoë Ball.

"I know that film means a great deal to me but I had no idea that I meant so much to film. I feel very honoured." John Hurt, 2012

BAFTA/ ArchiveUniversally acclaimed for his acting talent, Hurt’s vast range of distinguished performances has shaped an impressive career spanning six decades. He has starred in a variety of remarkable film roles working alongside some of the most important figures in the industry including Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier, Richard Burton and Steven Spielberg. The legendary characters he has portrayed include Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four, Rich in A Man For All Seasons – a film which won seven BAFTA Awards and six Academy Awards – and Max in Midnight Express, for which he won the BAFTA and Golden Globe awards for Best Supporting Actor.

FremantleMedia Ltd / Rex FeaturesHurt also won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Actor in 1976 for The Naked Civil Servant (pictured left), which was followed by a British Academy Film Award for Best Actor for his outstanding performance in The Elephant Man in 1981.

Throughout an impressive career he has received a further four BAFTA nominations (one for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Alien) and two Academy Award nominations. His most recent film roles have seen him starring as Ollivander in the Harry Potter series and Control in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – both films are BAFTA-nominated this year.

Tim Corrie, Chairman of BAFTA, said: “John Hurt is an actor it is both exciting and fascinating to watch. He has extraordinary screen presence and brings utter conviction to every role he undertakes. He is one of a kind, an iconic figure, and BAFTA is delighted to take this opportunity to honour his outstanding contribution to cinema.”

John Hurt Accepting his Award

Download John Hurt's Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema acceptance speech (4 KB), delivered at the Orange British Academy Film Awards in 2012.

Discover more about the veteran actor's sterling career...
> BAFTA interview with John Hurt .

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• ( What is this? )
• Print