The Newport Beach Film Festival has announced the names to be honored in this year’s Icon and Artist of Distinction categories ahead of next week’s British and Irish Honors event hosted by Nick Mohammed and Edith Bowman.
This year’s Icon Award goes to comedian and actor Jennifer Saunders. The Icon Award is the event’s most prestigious award, with past recipients including Stephen Fry, Bill Nighy, Lesley Manville, Richard E. Grant and Patrick Stewart.
A BAFTA Award winner and BAFTA Fellow, Saunders’ roles include the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous and the sketch comedy series French and Saunders with collaborator Dawn French. In addition, Sanders has starred in international blockbusters such as Shrek, The Sing, and Death on the Nile, as well as director Richard Eyre’s feature film Alleluia! He has also appeared in “. There are a number of projects, including Harlan Coben’s Netflix series “The Stranger.”
Sanders will next be seen in Neal Street Productions’ long-awaited blockbuster The Magic Faraway Tree, playing the role of Grandma Thompson.
Meanwhile, the Artist of Distinction Award recognizes notable talent who have had a significant impact on the British and Irish entertainment industry over the years. Winners in this category include Jack O’Connell (Sinners, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple), Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games, Lazarus), Shirley Henderson (The Vow, Bridget Jones), Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones, Steel), and Timothy Spall (Death Valley, Hamlet).
O’Connell has appeared in recent films including 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Sinners and the BAFTA-nominated Back to Black. Claflin’s work includes “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” “Love, Rosie,” and the Golden Globe-nominated “Daisy Jones and the Six.”
Henderson has become a mainstay of British film and television, appearing in Bridget Jones, Trainspotting and Wild Child, and most recently in the BAFTA-nominated film I Swear. Nominated for a SAG Award and an Emmy Award, Turner’s career has seen her take on roles ranging from the infamous Sansa Stark and jewel thief Joan Hannington in Game of Thrones to Lara Croft in Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s upcoming film Tomb Raider.
BAFTA Award winner Spall is a veteran of the British film and television industry, with career highlights including roles in the Harry Potter series, Mr Turner and Enchanted.
Gary Sherwin, president and CEO of Visit Newport Beach, and Greg Schwenk, CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival. “We are delighted to announce the latest list of winners for this year’s Newport Beach Film Festival UK and Ireland Honors Event. Jennifer Saunders is a true titan of the industry and a British national treasure, and this year’s Outstanding Artists include Jack O’Connell, Sam Claflin and Mr Henderson, Sophie Turner and Timothy Spall have all established long, diverse and successful careers and represent the very highest standards of work from the UK and Ireland, and we can’t wait to celebrate them at this year’s ceremony.”
