Thandie Newton and the young cast of the Harry Potter series were among the celebrities who watched as two screen legends were reunited at Monday's Empire Awards, which are voted for by the British public. An emotional Tony Curtis was presented a lifetime achievement award by Sir Roger Moore, his co-star in the 1970's TV show, The Persuaders.
After a standing ovation the star of classics such as Some Like It Hot and Spartacus thanked the audience for "a moving experience".
The wicked humour that has made the 80-year-old actor a favourite for over five decades was also very much in evidence. "I've made 140 movies, plus that wonderful series I did with my good friend Sir Roger," he said. "Then he wasn't Sir Roger. He was Lady Roger. But times have changed."
Meanwhile Hogwarts pupils Daniel Radcliffe, 16, and 15-year-old Emma Watson collected a gong as the series about the schoolboy wizard was recognised for its special contribution to the UK movie industry.
Screen lovely Thandie - who missed the Oscars because her daughter had chickenpox - turned up to be named best actress for Crash.
She posed alongside Johnny Vegas, there on behalf of Johnny Depp, who was voted best actor for his star turn in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. The Lancashire comic became friends with the Hollywood heavyweight whom he described as "a really down-to-earth bloke" on the set of The Libertines.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
