Lifetime achievement award for Richard Harris

Irish actor Richard Harris has been rewarded for his long career in film drama.

Irish actor Richard Harris has been rewarded for his long career in film drama.

The Limerick star has received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Empire Awards in London for his work on dozens of films, including major hits such as The Field, Wild Geese and A Sporting Life.

The Limerick actor with a famed hellraising reputation, who once complained that he had not been recognised by the British film industry, received the London Film Critics Lifetime Achievement award just a few days ago.

He said last night's award, while welcome, would have been more appropriate if it had been offered for the most unlikely person to still be alive at 70.

Ex-football hard man turned Hollywood star Vinnie Jones insisted he would not be quitting Britain for the glamorous Los Angeles lifestyle as he was named Best British Actor.

Jones beat competition from Sir Michael Caine, Jude Law and Robert Carlyle to scoop the award, voted for by Empire readers, for his performance as bullet-toothed Tony in Guy Ritchie's film Snatch.

Collecting his award, Jones said he loved working in Hollywood but insisted that while he was out there he was flying the flag for Britain and rumours that he was to relocate to LA were "far from the truth''.

He said: "Our kids go to school here, our family home is here. I am a British lad and I like flying the flag for us all.''

Jones, who is currently working on the film Swordfish with John Travolta, added: "I fly the flag on my trailer which John Travolta is not very happy about but I told him to get in the gym and bring a few mates the next time he wants to take it down.''

In a double for Snatch, Ritchie was named best British director in the Awards, which were handed out last night at the Dorchester Hotel in central London.

The touching drama Billy Elliot was named best British film with 14-year-old Jamie Bell collecting the best debut award and Julie Walters being named Best British Actress.

Other winners included the Roman epic Gladiator, which was named Best Film and its star, Russell Crowe, who was named Best Actor.

Harris heaped praise on the Australian star, saying Crowe was a "throwback to the sixties''.

He said he was looking forward to hooking up with Crowe, who is due to fly into London today, to do some serious drinking.

"I think he is great. Russell Crowe is carved from the same mould as me, Peter O'Toole and Albert Finney.''

He added: "He is a throwback to the sixties, he is a great man and a wonderful actor.''

The Empire Awards 2001 were hosted by presenter Dermot O'Leary, and will be shown on Channel 4 on February 25.

Here is a complete list of winners:

:: Best Debut - Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot)

:: Best British Actor - Vinnie Jones (Snatch)

:: Best British Actress - Julie Walters (Billy Elliot)

:: Best British Director - Guy Ritchie (Snatch)

:: Best British Film - Billy Elliott

:: Best Director - Bryan Singer (X-Men)

:: Best Actor - Russell Crowe (Gladiator)

:: Best Actress - Connie Nielsen (Gladiator)

:: Best Film - Gladiator

:: Inspiration Award - Nick Park and Peter Lord

:: Lifetime Achievement - Richard Harris.

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