John Hurt: Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema

John Hurt, the veteran actor known for everything from Midnight Express to The Elephant Man, has been given the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award.

Universally acclaimed for his acting talent, Hurt’s vast range of distinguished performances shaped an impressive career spanning six decades. He 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 portrayed include Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four and Rich in A Man For All Seasons – a film which won seven BAFTA Awards and six Academy Awards. Meanwhile his portrayal of Max in Midnight Express, won him BAFTA and Golden Globe awards for Best Supporting Actor.

Having been presented the award by Billy Bob Thornton at the Film Awards ceremony on 12 February 2012 he said:

“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

Watch Hurt collect his award below:

Hurt’s acting talent has seen him grace the stage and TV screens throughout the years – as well as the big screen of course. He won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Actor in 1976 for The Naked Civil Servant, 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 also received a further four BAFTA nominations (one for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Alien) and two Academy Award nominations. Later film roles saw him star as Ollivander in the Harry Potter series and Control in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Tim Corrie, Chairman of BAFTA, said: “John Hurt is an actor that 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.”