Winslet named Europe's favourite actress
Kate Winslet has been named Europe's favourite actress.
The 27-year-old star took the people's choice prize as best actress, voted for by moviegoers, for her role in Iris at the European Film Awards held in Rome.
She paid tribute to her co-star, Dame Judi Dench, whom she beat to the prize.
In a taped acceptance, Winslet told guests at the Teatro dell'Opera: "It's such an honour to be voted for by people who go to the movies.
"I'm deeply flattered to receive this award for my performance in Iris and I feel deeply blessed to have worked with Judi Dench. If it wasn't for her performance, I think mine may have been lost."
Winslet also thanked the director of Iris Sir Richard Eyre for bringing out her performance.
Ken Loach was also among the British winners as he landed the European critics' prize for his gritty movie Sweet Sixteen.
Loach has won huge acclaim for his film about a young Glaswegian who become a heroin dealer to make cash and improve his quality of life.
Picking up the prize he joked: "Showing your film to the critics is like a lamppost awaiting the approaching dogs."
British guests at the event - hosted by comic Mel Smith and Italian actress Asia Argento - included Jeremy Irons, Alice Evans and her fiance Ioan Gruffudd, Alan Rickman and Pete Postlethwaite.
