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A record breaking number of awards for ‘The Favourite’, the story of Queen Anne

By
3rd December 2018

‘The Favourite’, the film about Queen Anne starring Olivia Colman, has won a record number of prizes at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs). The movie focused on the monarch’s powerful female friendships, picked up ten gongs at the ceremony including ‘Best Actress’ for Olivia Colman who plays Anne.

Also honoured was Rachel Weisz who plays Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough in the film. She took home the prize for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ while Yorgos Lanthimos was named ‘Best Director’ for his work on the movie. The film also won awards for casting, screenplay, cinematography, costume design, makeup and hair design and production design. It was also named ‘Best Independent Film’ at the ceremony which took place in London on December 2nd 2018.

And another actress famous for her royal roles was also honoured at the event. Dame Judi Dench, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Elizabeth I in ‘Shakespeare in Love’ and who was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Queen Victoria in ‘Mrs Brown’, was presented with the Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor to British Film.

The BIFAs celebrate independent filmmaking and production and promote British movie making. They were set up in 1998 and have become an established part of the ever-expanding awards season that surrounds the film industry.

Olivia Colman’s win is being seen as another indicator of a possible Oscar nomination for her role as Queen Anne and in just a few days time, we’ll find out whether she’s been included in the shortlist for the Golden Globes, the first major US prizes in the 2019 awards season.

‘The Favourite’ tells the story of Queen Anne’s court and her reliance on her confidante, the Duchess of Marlborough, a relationship that is slowly eroded by the arrival of Sarah’s cousin, Abigail, played by Emma Stone. It has already won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival with Olivia Colman also named Best Actress for her part in the movie.

‘The Favourite’ opened at US cinemas on 23 November 2018 and it will be released in UK cinemas on 1 January 2019.

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About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.