2006 Awards Winners Announced! The Sony Ericsson Empire Awards in full
Well, it’s over. The 2006 Sony Ericsson Empire Awards swung harder than Louis Armstrong on a waltzer tonight and, when the smoke cleared, Episode III and Pride And Prejudice had each scooped two awards, while King Kong landed the big prize of Best Film.
Thandie Newton followed her BAFTA triumph with the Best Actress award for her turn in Crash, while Johnny Depp hooked Best Actor from Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. Nick Park and Steve Box won Best Director for their Oscar-winning success, Wallace And Gromit: The Curse Of The Were Rabbit.
Tony Curtis’ ‘The Persuaders’ co-star Roger Moore presented him with the Empire Lifetime Achievement Award. The screen legend, whose seven decade career had highlights with Spartacus and Some Like It Hot among other greats, received a standing ovation and was, quite understandably, deeply moved by the honour.
Stephen Frears was also honoured, winning the Inspiration Award for a career that has been stuffed full of variety and included My Beautiful Laundrette, Dirty Pretty Things and, most recently, Mrs Henderson Presents. The Harry Potter films were likewise bestowed with an honorary award for their contribution to cinema, which was gratefully received by producer David Heyman and stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
Exclusive Sony Ericsson Empire Awards coverage Click here for all the winners, exclusive video, quotes and more.
The winners in full:
Best Newcomer Leo Gregory (Stoned) Kelly Reilly (Mrs. Henderson Presents/Pride & Prejudice) Georgie Henley (The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe) James McAvoy (The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe) Nathan Fillion (Serenity)
Sony Ericsson Scene Of The Year Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit — ‘The Dogfight’ War Of The Worlds — ‘The Arrival’ The Descent — ‘The Attack Of The Crawlers’ Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith — ‘The Birth Of Vader’ Crash — ‘The Car Rescue’
Best Comedy The Wedding Crashers The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy The League Of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse Team America: World Police Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit
Best Thriller The Constant Gardener Sin City Batman Begins Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang A History Of Violence
Best Horror The Skeleton Key The Descent Land Of The Dead Wolf Creek
Best Sci-fi / Fantasy King Kong Serenity Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
Best Director Steven Spielberg — War Of The Worlds Peter Jackson — King Kong Christopher Nolan — Batman Begins Ron Howard — Cinderella Man Nick Park and Steve Box — Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit Joe Wright — Pride & Prejudice
Best Actor Christian Bale — Batman Begins Johnny Depp — Charlie And The Chocolate Factory Andy Serkis — King Kong Matt Dillon— Crash Viggo Mortensen — A History Of Violence
Best Actress Naomi Watts — King Kong Keira Knightley — Pride & Prejudice Thandie Newton — Crash Renée Zellweger – Cinderella Man Hilary Swank — Million Dollar Baby
Best British Movie Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit The Descent The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy Pride & Prejudice Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire Stoned
Best Film King Kong War Of The Worlds Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith Crash Sin City
Have Your Say...
We want to know what you think? To have your say on this, and all of Empire's news stories, register here or login now.
I'm glad to see others outraged by Serenity's lack of awards, especially the best newcomer award- that should have gone to the Fillion, no doubt in my mind. Also a little sad that Joss didn't get shortlisted for director. ... Read More
Kudos for giving Johnny Depp an award (he should be given an award for most of his films). However, as much as I loved King Kong, I think that Crash should have won. Also I think that Wallace and Gromit should have won best British Film and Star Wars should not have won any. So for the next ceremony can you please have a moment where you shoot George Lucas from a Cannon into the Sun. A pun involving ‘the force be with you’ phrase is optional. ... Read More
I feel so strongly about this it deserves another post!! Everyone loved Serenity, as we all know, but it would have been rubbish without the perfect Nathan Fillion working off of Wheedon's excellent script. Robbed, I thell thee!! Robbed! ... Read More
Best newcomer to that-girl-in Pride & Prejudice?! Against the legend that is Nathan Fillion? what is WRONG with you people?! that said, the rest are good... though i must say, it doesnt make much sense that King Kong got Best Film, yet lost out to Star Wars (as it should've) in the Sci-fi/Fantasy catagory... ... Read More
Why, why, why did King Kong win best film guys???? (The amount of plot holes and the general lack of plausability on it's own should have prevented it from even being nominated.) Star Wars beats it in the Sci Fi/ Fantasy catagory and Jackson doesn't win Best Director.... yet it's still the best film of the year? Mmmm........
And why didn't Hillary Swank win best Actress????? (I think Thandie Newton won only because she is a British actress in a controversial American film.) Why didn't Wallace... Read More
The Descent winning Best Horror? Nice one.well it didn't REALLY have much competition.Land of the Dead was plain crap,Skeleton Key was a snoozefest,and Wolf Creek was good but no-where near as scary or exciting than The Desecent.
Mr. Marshall we salute you for being the TRU SAVIOUR OF HORROR!!! Keep it up :) ... Read More
but what happened Serenity? i'm not talking to the writers but the people who voted-King Kong? come on people, it wasn't that good. considering what Jackson could have accomplished with the promise in LOTR it was definatly a disappointment. it might hint that outside of adaptations Jackson can only make gory, funny trash horror flicks which are all well and good but don't justify his monumental budget ... Read More
Most of these are worthy winners, but having said that, most of them I disagree with as well. First of all, standard moan, "Serenity"'s obviously the film of the year, much as I adored "King Kong", "Star Wars" etc, and it's clearly the greatest Sci-Fi/Fantasy filmof the year. This voting maybe reflects the amount of idiots who didn't see it in the cinema and will hopefully discover it on DVD. "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" is clearly in no way superior to "... Read More
