Kristin Scott Thomas collected her damehood from the Queen on Thursday. The actress, who will play Britain's monarch in The Audience from April, stepped out at Buckingham Palace to receive the honour. The Queen had a word of warning for 54-year-old Kristin, who is taking over the role from Dame Helen Mirren, saying that the part would be "quite a challenge" as she presented her with her accolade. Describing her conversation with the Queen, Four Weddings and a Funeral actress Kristin said: "She asked me what I was doing next, so I had to tell her and she said it would be quite a challenge."
Kristin was made a Dame at Buckingham Palace
The Anglo-French star, who wore a navy coat and matching pillbox style hat for the special occasion, will take over the West End role next month. The Audience, which is inspired by the Queen's private weekly meetings with Great Britain's prime ministers over her six-decade reign, will also welcome Downton Abbey's David Robb to its cast. The play has been running since February 2013 and saw Dame Helen tread the boards on Broadway as well as in London. Cornwall-born Kristin's latest honour comes 12 years after she was awarded with an OBE in 2003.
The Queen told Kristin that her latest role would be "quite a challenge"
Throughout her 31-year career Kristin has starred in silver screen hits including Gosford Park, The English Patient and The Other Boleyn Girl. Based in France, having lived in Paris since she was 19, Kristen has previously said that she considers herself more French than British. Kristin raised her three children Hannah, 25, Joseph, 22, and George, 13, in the French capital.