MOULIN Rouge star Nicole Kidman collected the actress of the year honour at the London Film Critics' Circle Awards.
Oscar hopefuls Dame Judi Dench and Helen Mirren also received a boost at last night's event.
Dame Judi was named best British actress for her role in the poignant drama Iris at the glittering bash at the Dorchester hotel.
The 67-year-old, who won a supporting Oscar in 1999 for Shakespeare in Love, hopes to repeat the success at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles next month.
Mirren was named best British Actress in a supporting role for her acclaimed performances in Gosford Park and Last Orders.
But there was disappointment for other Oscar nominees with Kate Winslet losing out to Dame Judi.
Jim Broadbent, aged 52, a hopeful for the best supporting actor Oscar for his role in Iris, was beaten to best British actor by Scot Ewan McGregor who was honoured for his performance in Moulin Rouge.
Moulin Rouge completed a spectacular hat-trick by also being named film in the year
Colin Farrell won British newcomer of the year for his role in Tigerland, while Helen Fielding, Richard Curtis and Andrew Davies were honoured as British screenwriters of the year for comedy hit Bridget Jones' Diary.
Gosford Park was named British film of the year, while foreign film of the year went to French film Amelie.
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