Queen gets special award after 'Bond girl' cameo

[Hugin]

Source: CNN

By Laura Smith-Spark, CNN

London (CNN) -- It's not every day a queen plays a Bond girl. But for the opening of the London Olympic Games last summer, Queen Elizabeth II did just that, in a cameo alongside Daniel Craig as James Bond.

With that and decades of support for British film and TV in mind, she was presented Thursday with an honorary BAFTA.

British Academy of Film and Television Arts chairman John Willis joked that she was "the most memorable Bond girl yet."

Actor Kenneth Branagh, himself a BAFTA winner, presented the award at a star-studded reception at Windsor Castle.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/05/world/europe/uk-queen-film-award/?hpt=wo_c2

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If you read down in the article a little, the Award is really more to do with the Queen's long support of English Film and Television. But, the Bond Girl slant is a nice lead in.

[tabasco]

1. No doubt Elizabeth is a nice lady and a class act

but all monarchies should be abolished.

[lastlib]

7. ^ ^ ^ THIS ^ ^ ^

A hearty K & R!!!

Monarchies are a relic of an undemocratic age--they are a stain on humanity. The only "benevolent monarchy" is a dead monarchy.

[Wednesdays]

9. Exactly. I don't get the worship of Prince William, etc.

After all, didn’t we fight a little skirmish around oh, 1776 or so...something that had a lot to do with royalty?

What is it about them that makes them so special, other than their being lucky enough to have been born in a particular family? They have no outstanding talent for anything...it boils down to "Ooh, it's Prince William" (merely love of his title and riches).

I've noticed a major ramping up of their P. R. in recent years, and the James Bond video is all part of that. It’s just bullshit.

[Frank Cannon]

14. The royal family actually MAKES a shitload of money for the UK.

That's why they keep the whole thing going. The family is an international tourist attraction that serves as an enormous cash cow, like Disney World and Universal Studios in the United States--COMBINED--while their actual political power is essentially nil.

I know it's hard to believe that people around the world are just as superficial as we are, but many of them are. And there you have it.

[MADem]

18. This is true. Even on shitty days, the Changing of the Guard draws a crowd. nt

[RILib]

8. that's up to the specific country

The Danish people seem to like their royal family, which makes the British royal family look like Desperate Housewives.

[tabasco]

11. My opinion is up to no country and nobody

but my own sweet self.

[SwissTony]

16. So do the Dutch. Anf like the Danes, the family has a gorgeous DIL. n/t

[RILib]

19. Danish Mary

Is super. She thought about the proposal for a long time, learned to be fluent in Danish, studied her head off about Danish culture and history.

I saw a photo of her mother-in-law, an accomplished artist, translator, costume designer, in a Royal castle that she's made hygge, which I would have thought impossible to do.

[SwissTony]

20. She's Australian, mate. Comes from Tassie.

We're quite proud of her.

Her Dutch counterpart is Princess Maxima, a beautiful (not that that is important), intelligent woman married to Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. She is Argentinian by birth. Her father couldn't come to her wedding in Holland because he was involved with the junta during the "bad" days in Argentina, although he didn't seem to be directly connected to any misdeeds.

She speaks perfect Dutch. I think she was locked away (in the nicest sense) so that she could address the nation in perfect Dutch. The Dutch love her.

[Nye Bevan]

15. And everyone in the UK thinks that the USA's Second Amendment should be abolished.

But neither of these things is likely to happen anytime soon.

[Divernan]

2. Good to see the pics of her so happy at this ceremony - congratulations, Ma'am.

She has had to be so strong, living all of her life, with all the highs and the lows, in the public eye. We've seen how the office of presidency ages the men who've held it. Her motto remains that of war-time England: Stay calm and carry on.

Chairman of Bafta John Willis paid tribute to the monarch in front of a star-studded audience.

"The Queen has been patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund and the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund -- for which money is raised by Royal Film Performances -- since 1952, so for more than 60 years, and visited countless industry organisations, shining a light on the work that we all do and lending her tireless support to our efforts," he said.

Branagh also brought up the stunt during his presentation speech. He told the Queen: "Your sensational appearance at the opening ceremony of last year's Olympics was especially memorable.

"So much so that several of my colleagues here tonight want you to know that should you wish to take it further into the world of British films that they have a number of scripts with them here this evening. I have to warn you, Your Majesty, not all of these films are fully financed."

[JNelson6563]

3. I'm a big fan of Branagh

IMO the Queen is a lucky lady.

Julie

[Tempest]

4. Same here. Have you seen "Rabbit Proof Fence"? His best work. n/t

[SwissTony]

17. Same here also.

Rabbit Proof Fence is a great movie. Sadly, it's based on true events We Aussies have done many terrible things to our indigenous people. It's getting better, but we're not there yet.

Anyway, have you seen KB in the Blackadder skit?

[Hugin]

10. I suspect that awards like this mean more to people like the Queen.

Because, it was something she chose to do rather than some nebulous officious award.

That's why I posted the article.

[dballance]

5. She's a class act.

Remember she volunteered for the war effort during WWII.

[Helen Reddy]

6. Feel a little silly.

I saw the movie, and just assumed that was an actor impersonator.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

12. The stunt man who jumped as the Queen

later made a wingsuit jump where he landed without using a parachute.

Imagine running across your living room, jumping through the air and then trying to lick a stamp on the floor and you get the idea of his achievement. There's no room for error.

[Helen Reddy]

13. Very cool. Thanks! n/t