Bafta 2013: Dame Judi Dench finally recognised for James Bond role Veteran British actress Dame Judi Dench has finally been recognised by the Bafta awards for her role as M in James Bond, as Skyfall receives eight nominations this year. (TELEGRAPH)

By Hannah Furness9:14AM GMT 09 Jan 2013

Dame Judi Dench has been nominated as best supporting actress for her role as M in James Bond, receiving one of the eight nominations for Skyfall announced at a ceremony this morning.

It is the first time she has been recognized by Bafta for playing M, and comes as she finally finishes her 17 year stint in the role. Skyfall will be her final appearance in the James Bond franchise.

Her nomination is one of eight received by the film this year, including Outstanding British Film and Cinematography.

Javier Bardem was announced as a contender for best supporting actor, with potential accolades also including prizes for original music, editing, production design and sound.


Casino Royale has previously received nine nominations; a record high.

This year, Skyfall was narrowly pipped to the most nominations by Lincoln, which received ten, Les Miserables and Life of Pi which both received nine.

The award for best film will come from a short list of Argo, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty.

Judi Dench was first recognised by Bafta in1966 as "most promising newcomer", and has gone on to receive and impressive 26 nominations.

She has already won ten times, including best leading actress for Iris and Mrs Brown.

READ MORE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/baftas/9789811/Bafta-2013-Dame-Judi-Dench-finally-recognised-for-James-Bond-role.html

Scots comedy legend Billy Connolly in tears as he accepts BAFTA award

Kevin Bridges and Billy Connolly

Billy Connolly sobbed as he received a Scottish Bafta award last night (10 Dec)

He was presented with a gong for an Outstanding Contribution in Television and Film by stand-up comedian Kevin Bridges. Kevin thanked Billy for being a inspiration to generations of Scots comics and Billy replied: “This is a delightful thing, especially coming from Scotland. “I’ve been nominated for loads of things and got b***** all. I occasionally get these good attendance things, like the guy in remedial class getting a prize for being kind. “Genuinely, to get this from Scotland, I almost say it breaks my heart. It just hits me somewhere where I live.”

As Billy burst into tears, the crowd in Glasgow’s Fruitmarket applauded wildly. He continued: “I don’t know what to do now. It’s been a real pleasure to talk to you. I guess you only get these things once … but could we meet every second week?”

The presentation came at the end of a 90-minute discussion about Billy’s Life In Pictures alongside a few dodgy jokes about thalidomide and the Gorbals. The Big Yin talked about his roles in films such as 1978’s Absolution with Richard Burton and Mrs Brown with Judi Dench. Of Burton, he said: “The funny thing was, I was drunk and he was sober. “They shot the graveyard scene from the back and what you couldn’t see was him singing I Belong to Glasgow. “He was a priest and I showed him where the pocket was in the cassock for his fags.”

Mrs Brown also left a big impression. Billy said: “At one point, I thought that Judi Dench fancied me. She kept giving me the eye in one scene and I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ I danced about more and she started doing it again. “It was getting worse and then it dawned on me that she was being Queen Victoria, so I fancied her back.”

Billy admitted he was disappointed to miss out on a Bafta for Mrs Brown – instead it went to Ewan McGregor for Trainspotting. He said: “Ewan beat me with that filth about drugs in Edinburgh – and that language, too. “I hate Ewan for beating me. When you get beaten by somebody you like, it’s worse.

READ MORE: http://scottishactors.blogspot.com/2012/12/billy-connolly-bafta-award.html