BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION ARTS LOS ANGELES®
ANNOUNCES HOST ROB BRYDON
AND HONOREE IDRIS ELBA
AT THE 2013 BAFTA LOS ANGELES BRITANNIA AWARDS
PRESENTED BY BBC AMERICA ON
NOVEMBER 10, 2013
Broadcast to Air on BBC AMERICA
November 10, 2013 9:00pm ET
Brydon is an award winning actor, writer and producer including four BAFTA TV Award nominations, two British Comedy Awards, and a Royal Television Society award. Rob Brydon MBE studied at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama before joining BBC Wales as a radio and television presenter. He first came to the public’s attention in 2000 with television shows “Marion and Geoff” and “Human Remains,” winning British Comedy Awards for both. Since then his extensive credits have included ”I’m Alan Partridge,” “Little Britain,” “Live at the Apollo,” “Rob Brydon’s Annually Retentive,” “QI,” “Have I Got News For You,” “Rob Brydon’s Identity Crisis,” “Would I Lie To You?” and BAFTA award winning BBC AMERICA series “Gavin and Stacey” where he played the lead role of Stacey’s Uncle Bryn. In 2009, Rob completed an eighty seven date tour of the UK with his stand up show, Rob Brydon Live, including a run in London’s West End. Rob returned to the stage in the Autumn of 2011 alongside Kenneth Branagh in The Painkiller at The Lyric in Belfast. In the Autumn of 2012, Rob made his West End debut in Alan Ayckbourn’s celebrated A Chorus of Disapproval directed by Sir Trevor Nunn. Rob has recently reteamed with Steve Coogan and Michael Winterbottom for the theatrical film “The Trip to Italy,” a follow up to the “The Trip,” which Brydon acted in and is scheduled for release in 2014.
“We’re really delighted that Rob will be hosting this year’s Britannia Awards. Rob has brought TV viewers wonderful performances over the years and is probably best known in the US from his roles in the hit comedies ‘Marion and Geoff’ and ‘Gavin & Stacey’. As one of the most diverse and respected comic actors in the UK, we are thrilled Rob will bring his wonderful Brit wit to the evening,” said Rebecca Segal & Deborah Kolar, Co-Chairs Britannia Awards.
The Britannia Awards are BAFTA Los Angeles’ highest accolade, a celebration of achievements honoring individuals and companies that have dedicated their careers to advancing the entertainment arts. Idris Elba will receive The BAFTA LA Britannia Humanitarian Award. Idris Elba is a Golden Globe® award winning and Emmy nominated actor, producer, director, humanitarian and an anti-crime ambassador for the Prince’s Trust. Elba constantly showcases his creative versatility both on-screen in television and film as well as behind the camera and continues to captivate audiences and secure his position as a formidable talent, with a string of acclaimed performances in high-profile films as well as multiple critically acclaimed television series. Elba’s charitable work off-set is just as commendable as his acting accolades which includes his devout involvement with the Prince’s Trust, Staying Alive Foundation and supporting causes related to AIDS & HIV, at-risk/disadvantage youths, children, health and education.
“Idris Elba has used his success in film and television to turn the spotlight towards a very deserving cause. His work with the Prince’s Trust for disadvantaged youth is highly commendable, and in complete accord with BAFTA Los Angeles’ own work in the inner city,” said Gary Dartnall, Chairman, BAFTA Los Angeles.
The Britannia Humanitarian Award has previously recognized Richard Curtis, Don Cheadle and Colin Firth. Elba is being honored for his work with the UK charity The Prince’s Trust, founded in 1976 by Prince Charles to help disadvantaged youth. The recipient of a grant from The Prince’s Trust himself, Elba was able to attend The National Youth Music Theatre at the age of 16; something he credits with changing his life. Starting his work with the Trust as an anti-crime ambassador, Elba helped launch ‘Prince’s Trust Undiscovered’ campaign, aiming to help young people caught in the recession.
He will join previously announced honorees Benedict Cumberbatch, who will receive the Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year; Sacha Baron Cohen, who will receive the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy; George Clooney, who will receive the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film; Kathryn Bigelow, who will receive the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing; and Sir Ben Kingsley who will receive the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment.
The Britannia Awards are presented annually at a gala dinner, where peers and colleagues celebrate the work and accomplishments of the year’s distinguished honorees. Proceeds from the gala ceremony support BAFTA Los Angeles’ on-going education, scholarship, community outreach and archival projects.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles is the only Anglo-American professional organization founded to promote and advance original work in film, television and interactive media. BAFTA Los Angeles serves as the bridge between the Hollywood and British production and entertainment business communities, and provides exclusive access to screenings, Q&As with creative talent, produces seminars with leading UK film and television executives and the Heritage Archive, featuring broadcast-quality interviews with distinguished British members of the film and television industries, giving life to the preservation of the UK film industry for future generations.
Maintaining a long tradition of recognizing the finest filmmaking and television talent, BAFTA Los Angeles hosts a series of events, including the prestigious Britannia Awards, the Awards Season Film and Television Tea Parties in January and September and the annual Garden Party.
A commitment to professional and community education is at the heart of the Academy’s charitable remit. BAFTA Los Angeles hosts the Student Film Awards and has an active Scholarship Program offering financial support and mentorship to UK students studying in the U.S. The Academy created The Inner City Cinema, a screening program providing free screenings of theatrical films to inner city areas not served by theatres. The success of Inner City Cinema has led to further free screening programs extended to multiple inner city parks through the Academy’s work with both the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks After Dark) and The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (Teen Summer Camps).
For more information on the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles, visit www.baftala.org.
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