Sir Billy honoured by BAFTA

Connolly to receive Fellowship

by Amber Wilkinson

Billy Connolly with Judi Dench in Mrs Brown
Billy Connolly with Judi Dench in Mrs Brown Photo: BBC Films
Scots comic and actor Sir Billy Connolly will receive this year's BAFTA followship on May 8.

The 79-year-old, who was knighted in 2017, said he was "deeply honoured" to receive the ward and told bafta.org: "I don’t let the Parkinson’s dictate who I am."

The star, who started out as a ship welder in Glasgow is being honoured for "outstanding and exceptional contribution to film" in a career that also included success on stage and the small screen, which has spanned more than 50 years.

The star's film roles have included ghillie John Brown in Mrs Brown - for which he received a BAFTA Scotland nomination and, more recently, Dustin Hoffman's Quartet, for which he was nominated for a Supporting Actor BAFTA. He has also provided voices for animated films including Pocahontas and Brave.

Noting, "I have a collection of shiny things that I'm very proud of," the star said, in respect of his diagnosis in 2013 "I just get on with it. I’ve had a very successful career and I have no regrets at all.”

Share this with others on...
News

Man about town Gay Talese on Watching Frank, Frank Sinatra, and his latest book, A Town Without Time

Magnificent creatures Jayro Bustamante on giving the girls of Hogar Seguro a voice in Rita

A unified vision DOC NYC highlights and cinematographer Michael Crommett on Dan Winters: Life Is Once. Forever.

Poetry and loss Géza Röhrig on Terrence Malick, Josh Safdie, and Richard Kroehling’s After: Poetry Destroys Silence

'I’m still enjoying the process of talking about Julie and advocating for her silence' Leonardo van Dijl on Belgian Oscar nominee Julie Keeps Quiet

More news and features

Interact

More competitions coming soon.