Dame Judi Clinch! Veteran Actress Dench Gives Kenneth Branagh a Huge Hug As He Picks Up Top Prize at the 36th London Critics' Circle Film Awards
Daily Mail, 17 January 2016 See the photos It's not every day two of Britain's finest actors get together for a giant bear hug, but Dame Judi Dench and Sir Kenneth Branagh were spotted doing just that at the 36th London Critics' Circle Film Awards on Sunday. Dame Judi, 81, went in for an affectionate clinch with the screen icon as they reunited on the red carpet at the ceremony, which saw Kenneth being recognised with the Dilys Powell Award for excellence in film. The 55-year-old actor-director accepted the honor at the prestigious awards ceremony, held at The May Fair hotel in London, presented by Judi, who he cast in his recent stage production of ''The Winter's Tale'. Looking resplendent in a crushed velvet jacket over black trousers and a matching top, Dame Judi oozed glam in her wintry outfit as she took to the red carpet ahead of the ceremony. Judi, who paired her flowing jacket with dainty layered silver necklace, was there to present her good friend with his accolade which celebrated his glittering 35 years in the industry. Kenneth looked dapper in a tailored three-piece suit on the night, while proudly speaking of the honour of winning the Dilys Powell Award for excellence in film. 'As a young filmmaker, I had the privilege of meeting Dilys Powell,' he said, referring to the late Sunday Times critic for whom the award is named. He continued in the statement: 'She was passionate, rigorous, humane. Her criticism was illuminating, thoughtful and bracing. 'This recognition in her name is a great honour to me personally and very meaningful. My sincere thanks to the Critics' Circle.' Kenneth and Judi were quite the double act as they brought the ceremony to a rousing close when they arrived on stage. The crowd was treated to the British acting royalty taking to the stage, as Judi presented Kenneth with the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film. Branagh accepted the award from his recent stage partner in 'A Winter's Tale', after verbal and visual tributes to his storied career as an actor and filmmaker. It was a strong night for British talent, as Kate Winslet was named Supporting Actress of the Year for her work in 'Steve Jobs', all the while leading the style stakes on the night looking stunning in a sleek skater style dress on Sunday night. She didn't take all the glory though, as her co-star Mark Rylance took the Supporting Actor honour for Steven Spielberg's 'Bridge of Spies'. Adding to its growing list of honours in the US, Asif Kapadia's homegrown Amy Winehouse biopic 'Amy' took the award for Documentary of the Year. Among the films it beat was 'The Look of Silence'; Joshua Oppenheimer's follow-up to 'The Act of Killing' was instead named Foreign Language Film of the Year. Other winners included 'Brooklyn' star Saoirse Ronan, who was named British/Irish Actress of the Year, while 18-year-old Maisie Williams accepted the Young British/Irish Performer award for her challenging lead role in Carol Morley's adolescent study 'The Falling'.
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