John Hurt set to receive special BAFTA

Veteran actor John Hurt will receive the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at this year's BAFTA ceremony on 12th February.

Hurt's career as an actor spans six decades, including choice roles as Winston Smith in 'Nineteen Eighty-Four', Rich in 'A Man For All Seasons', Max in 'Midnight Express', for which he won the BAFTA and Golden Globe awards for Best Supporting Actor and as the titular 'Elephant Man' in David Lynch's classic.

More recently the gravel-voiced thesp left his mark as Ollivander in the Harry Potter series and Control in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – both films are BAFTA-nominated this year.

Hurt also won the British Academy 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 'The Elephant Man' in 1981.

He has four BAFTA further nominations and two Oscar nominations.
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 added: "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."

The Orange British Academy Film Awards take place on Sunday 12 February, hosted by Stephen Fry and broadcast on BBC One. They will be preceded by a special BAFTA ‘red carpet’ programme hosted by Edith Bowman on BBC Three.

The Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award, introduced in 1978, is presented annually in honour of Michael Balcon. Previous recipients include Mike Leigh, Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jarman, Mary Selway, Ridley and Tony Scott, Working Title Films and Lewis Gilbert. Last year’s recipient was the Harry Potter series of films.

Check out this year's list of BAFTA nominees right here. And be sure to read our story on the other recipient of a high BAFTA honour - Martin Scorsese, who will be handed the coveted Fellowship.
 

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