Academy Award winner Judi Dench, who has starred in such acclaimed films as the recent hit "Chocolat," "Shakespeare in Love" and "Mrs. Brown," will be honored as ShoWest 2001's Supporting Actress of the Year, it was announced today by Robert Sunshine, chairman of Sunshine Group Worldwide (SGW), which operates the event.
Dench will receive her award at the annual Gala Award Banquet, sponsored by the Coca-Cola Co., to be held at the Bally's and Paris Hotels in Las Vegas on March 8.
"We are thrilled to have an actress of the caliber of Judi Dench grace our stage," said Sunshine. "Her body of work represents some of the best films and theater productions of the 20th century."
Dench can currently be seen on-screen in Lasse Hallstrom's critically acclaimed "Chocolat," for which she has been nominated for a Golden Globe. The film, which also stars Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, recently received four Golden Globe nominations, including Best Picture, Musical or Comedy.
As one of the world's leading and most versatile actresses, Dench received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Queen Elizabeth in John Madden's "Shakespeare in Love." The role also garnered her the BAFTA, National Society of Film Critic Awards and nominations from the Screen Actors Guild and the Golden Globes.
Dench's other film credits include the role of M in the recent James Bond films "The World Is Not Enough," "Tomorrow Never Dies" and "GoldenEye," as well as Franco Zefferelli's "Tea With Mussolini" and Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet." She is also an accomplished stage actress, with a career spanning more than 40 years.
Most recently, she appeared on Broadway and at the National Theatre in Richard Eyre's production of "Amy's View," for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress and the Critics Circle Award. Dench has also appeared in numerous television projects, including "The Last of the Blond Bombshells," with Olympia Dukakis and Sir Ian Holm. In 1988, Dench was made a Dame of the British Empire.
Among the previous recipients of the ShoWest Supporting Actress of the Year are: Angelina Jolie ("Girl, Interrupted"), Catherine Zeta-Jones ("The Mask of Zorro"), Joan Allen ("Pleasantville") and Elizabeth Hurley ("Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery").
ShoWest 2001 will be held from Monday, March 5, through Thursday, March 8, at Bally's and Paris Hotels in Las Vegas.
Celebrating its 27th year, ShoWest is the world's largest motion-picture-industry convention. Each year, ShoWest attracts delegates from more than 45 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. ShoWest is managed by Sunshine Group Worldwide, operators of ShowEast, Cinema Expo and CineAsia.
Thanks to Mike Kennedy for sending me this article which appeared on the Individual.com web site via NewsEdge Corporation - January 11, 2001.