UK & World News
- 16 June 2012, 10:10
Barlow And Winslet On Queen Honours List
This year's honours list sees some of Britain's best talent awarded for their dedication to the entertainment industry.
Among those awarded include Kate Winslet, Gary Barlow and Kenneth Branagh.
Titanic actress Winslet has been recognised with a CBE for her services to drama.
Winslet, 36, said: "I am both surprised and honoured to stand alongside so many men and women who have achieved great things for our country.
"And I feel deeply proud to receive this, as a part of an ever-expanding community of British actors and film makers who are fortunate enough to be able to contribute to an international industry.
"This makes me very proud to be a Brit."
Winslet fell in love with acting from an early age but it was her performance in the period drama Sense And Sensibility that got her noticed when she was rewarded with both a Bafta and an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
Her role in the blockbuster Titanic, however, alongside teen heart-throb Leonardo DiCaprio, propelled her to Hollywood stardom.
As well as a successful acting career Winslet has also set up a charity, the Golden Hat Foundation, for autistic youngsters and published a book of celebrity self-portraits to raise funds.
Take That star Gary Barlow's OBE comes just days after he put together the triumphant Diamond Jubilee concert for the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
His Jubilee anthem Sing also remains at number one.
He said: "I'm absolutely thrilled and feel very privileged to be in the company of so many brilliant people who I know have received an OBE.
"Growing up I never dreamt that one day I'd be getting one myself. I enjoy every minute of the work I do, with a lot of it being a reward in itself, so for somebody to decide I should get recognised for that is just amazing."
He added: "My family are very proud."
Barlow, 41, who has been honoured for his services to the entertainment industry and to charity, has been behind some of the biggest smash-hits of the past two decades.
The Oscar-nominated Kenneth Branagh has been recognised for his services to drama and to the community of Northern Ireland.
Belfast-born Branagh, 51, said: "I feel humble, elated, and incredibly lucky.
"When I was a kid I dreamed of pulling on a shirt for the Northern Ireland football team.
"I could only imagine how proud you might feel. Today it feels like they just gave me the shirt, and my heart's fit to burst."
The honour comes months after he won plaudits for his portrayal of Sir Laurence Olivier, he was nominated for an Oscar and a Bafta for the role as the late screen and stage star in My Week With Marilyn.
He has also scored roles in blockbuster's Thor, and as Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in the Harry Potter films.
Other recipients include Armando Iannucci, the man behind the Westminster sitcom The Thick Of It, who has been awarded an OBE.
Actress Jenny Agutter, most famous for her roles in An American Werewolf in London and Logan's Run, and who now stars in British TV series Spooks, has also been honoured with an OBE.
Fellow actress Amanda Redman, who starred in police drama New Tricks and founded the Artists Theatre School, has been given an MBE.
Michael Boyd, artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company will receive a knighthood for his services to drama.
what do you think?
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Chris Preece
well said .. Not enough ordinary well deserving people getting awards .. since when has being actor/actress ,singer etc meants getting gongs ???
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Does anyone have any more names of the decent people who refused these silly badges ? Roald Dahl was one. LS Lowry refused five !!! My hero.
Michael Hawkins
Nice if you move in the right circles, you get a knighthood for doing your job whilst getting paid excessive amounts of money that make bankers bonuses look like small change Amongst the masses of actors actresses artist musicians there will be a few who genuinely deserve the honour for giving their time freely for benefit of other - most will be the usual wasters who would have got their medal from a competition contained within a Harrods corn flake box Successive governments have stated these would be awarded to those who deserve recognition - Successive governments have dished these out to party faithful and inefficient civil servants and military devaluing the whole system
Bernadette Griffin
I think Ken Branagh is a very deserving recipient of this.
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Give me one good reason .
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Old Brown nose, getting an OBE for organising the queens party outside the palace. We all know that's what it was for.The arrogance of this government, to give out a lower honour for "ordinary people", the BEM. Why can't ordinary people be up for the same honours as the other lot.Instead of a couple of token exceptions.The class system even has a divide, inside the honours system. You'll never see a rich Tory getting a BEM.
john lonsdale
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David Nesbitt
And instead of making troops who are laying down there lives for Queen and Country redundant give them a decent pay rise
john
The Daily Mash had a brilliant article on Barlow's grovelling.
Ian Black
A bit predictable for the brown nosing Barlow. Should be honoured for services to grovelling
john
It's time we stopped all this rewarding so called celebs! Decent people don't need rewarding.
David Woolacott
What about Richard Dawkins, Liz forgot again??????????????
Graham Mcneill
no surprise there for barlow hes done enough crawling but i suppose hes got what he sert out to do
john lonsdale
Gary Barlow won't be turning it done due to the fact he's just a prat. What's he getting Birthday Honours for. These people have done nothing compared to your Armed Forces. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE BRAVE YOUNG SOLDIERS GIVING LIFE FOR QUEEN AND COUNTRY...... YOUR MAJESTY FORGET THESE CELEBS AND REMEMBER YOUR LOYAL ARMED FORCES THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT GIVE THERE LIVES. PLEASE CAN YOU MENTION THEM IN YOUR BIRTHDAY HONORS LIST? FORGET THESE USELESS CELEBS.
john lonsdale
TRUE Comments being removed by orange. What happened to freedom of speak. ORANGE IS OBVIOUSLE BIASED. In favour of celebs and not the true people of this country.
john lonsdale
BROWN NOSE BARLOW.
Charles Rickards
The interesting aspect of this is are these honours as valuable as they once were? Seem to be handed out like balloons in Pizza restaurants. Disappointed for Gary though, thought he'd get a knighthood for his efforts, but maybe next time! It is interesting how we judge the fortunes of others without the benefit of full facts, but I guess we have been conditioned to react by the manipulative media for years.
Joanne Poole
Well done Kenneth Branagh! Long overdue and well deserved!
robert
Why do these people have to be honoured?,they have already been VERY WELL PAID for services rendered,and they will continue to be paid in royalties untill they pop their clogs and when they are gone they earn even MORE.
Sue Richards
Gary Barlow really deserves this award he does a lot for charity it's not just for organising the jubilee concert. Last year alone he did two solo charity concerts for the Princes Trust as well as organising a concert for Children in need. In previous years he's walked up Kilimanjaro for comic relief with a bad back and he's organised other Children in need concerts. It's never been about getting a reward for his efforts he enjoys doing them. Some people get them just for being actors.
PRUDENCE EELY
8:11am on 16/6/2012
A load of rubbish .I have admiration only for Vanessa Redgrave who had the'guts' to turn the so called honour down when she was put forward to be made a Dame.