Queen's Birthday Honours: Christopher Lee and Jonathan Pryce recognised
Story by Jack Foley
VETERAN actor Christopher Lee has been knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, which has also recognised Jonathan Pryce, Sue Johnston and Alan Cumming.
The 87-year-old was included on the list on Saturday (June 16, 2009) for a career that included iconic roles as Dracula in the Hammer Horror movies of the 1950s, as well as Bond villain Francisco Scaramanga in 1974 Roger Moore movie The Man With The Golden Gun.
He has also recently come back to prominence with key roles in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as George Lucas’ Star Wars prequels.
The London-born star is one of the most prolific actors of all time, having appeared in more than 250 film and TV productions – and as if to underline how busy he remains, he was unavailable for comment due to filming commitments in Mexico.
Another notable Lee incarnation was his terrifying portrayal of Lord Summerisle in 1973’s cult horror classic The Wicker Man, alongside Edward Woodward.
Further honours
Lee’s name is included on the Honours List along with Jonathan Pryce and Alan Cumming.
Pryce, whose film credits include Brazil, Evita and Pirates of the Caribbean films was made a CBE.
And former X-Men 2 Cumming was appointed OBE on the Diplomatic and Overseas list for services to film, theatre and the arts, as well as for his work as a gay rights campaigner
Joining them on the list from the acting world was former Brookside actress Sue Johnston, who is also best known for playing Barbara Royle in popular BBC sitcom The Royle Family.
Johnston said she was “delighted and honoured” at becoming OBE, adding: “I’m only sorry that my parents are not here as they would have been so proud.”
Veteran actress Anna Wing, 94, who played Lou Beale in BBC soap EastEnders, was made an MBE and described the honour as “the icing on the cake”.
She commented: “As a child, I used to cling to the railings of Buckingham Palace never thinking that one day I would be decorated by the Queen.”
Finally, actor James Bolam, 70, best known for 1960s TV hit The Likely Lads, is appointed MBE.
Andrew Motion and Delia Smith honoured