06/11/2008

Women In Film And Television Honours Julie Walters

Golden Globe and BAFTA award-winning stage and screen actress Julie Walters is the latest British star to be honoured by Women in Film and Television (WFTV).

In December, she will receive their highest accolade - the Lifetime Achievement Award 2008.

Walters has become one of the UK's best loved actresses during her 34-year career, with a string of diverse roles to her name. She first achieved fame in partnership with Victoria Wood in a variety of popular TV shows including 'Victoria Wood As Seen On TV'.

It was in this show that Walters appeared as the legendary Mrs Overall, in the spoof soap opera sketch 'Acorn Antiques'.

Her break into film came with 'Educating Rita' in 1983, where she put in an award-winning performance alongside Michael Caine.

Other highlights include leading roles in 'Billy Elliot', 'Calendar Girls' and 'Harry Potter', as well as TV's 'Ahead of The Class' and 'My Beautiful Son'. Most recently she starred alongside Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth in 'Mamma Mia', which has just been announced as the biggest grossing British film of all time at the UK box office.

Kate Kinninmont, Chief Executive of WFTV UK, said: "Julie has undoubtedly become one of the country's national treasures and she has amassed an extraordinary body of work in a relatively short number of years.

"At only 58, she is the youngest ever recipient of our Lifetime Achievement Award, a great testament to her talent and creativity," she commented.

Julie Walters said: "I feel extremely privileged to be the recipient of such a great award.

"The world of film and television is represented by a raft of talented women, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fabulous women I have worked, laughed and cried with in the course of my career!"

WFTV is the premiere membership organisation for women working in film, television and digital media.

Their members come from all areas of the industry, including producers, directors, actors, presenters, interactive content creators, composers, designers, editors, directors of photography, researchers and writers.

The Target EFTV Awards Luncheon 2008 will be held at the Hilton on Park Lane on December 5 and will be sponsored by The Target Entertainment Group.

Previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award include Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Judi Dench and Dame Diana Rigg.

(KMcA)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

12 January 2012
UK Film Urged To Go Mainstream
Comments made by Britain’s Prime Minister, that urged the UK film industry to become more "mainstream" ahead of a review on the UK’s film policy next Monday, have been met with criticism.
13 October 2003
Lottery-backed UK films net £125m in receipts
National Lottery investments in the UK film industry has generated box office takings of over £125 million, new figures released today have revealed. Overall, £13 million of Lottery funding invested by the UK Film Council has generated £125.
29 November 2010
UK Industry Bankrolls Inbound Films
An increase in National Lottery funds and an emphasis on funding from within the UK movie industry itself are to bankroll the British Film Institute (BFI) as it assumes the former international marketing role of the UK Film Council (UKFC).
19 July 2004
UK film industry worth a billion dollars in 2003
The top 10 UK films at the international box office scooped more than a billion dollars between them last year, according to a UK Film Council report published today.
28 November 2003
Film Council study finds post-production sector generates £1.4b for UK economy
British film industry creative and technical expertise has helped to generate £1.39 billion and 15,000 jobs in the UK economy, a major new report published by the Film Council has revealed.