From Harrow to Bollywood, slumdog boy takes top prize

Ralph Fiennes, Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley were among the stellar nominees at one of British film's most glittering celebrations.

But while they went home disappointed, one of the biggest winners was Dev Patel, a teenager from Harrow plucked from obscurity to play the lead in Slumdog Millionaire by Trainspotting director Danny Boyle.

Patel, 18, was named most promising newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards last night where Slumdog Millionaire also took the top prizes of best movie and best director.

The film tells the story of a young "slumdog" - played by Patel - whose success in answering questions on India's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire defies expectations.

Boyle, who lives in east London, hailed his young star as a great new talent in the same league as David Thewlis and Michael Sheen, both of whom received special awards at last night's ceremony at the Old Billingsgate Market.

"He's a very talented young lad. He comes from an Indian background but it's a big ask to come to Bombay and play a local among a completely Bollywood cast," Boyle said.

Patel said it was brilliant to win the award in the city where he still lives at home with his parents.

"It's such an amazing confidence boost for someone who's as new to acting as me," he said. "That's the weird thing. I live these two different lives where I'm Danny Boyle's lead out in India then I go home and my mum is saying, make your bed and help with the washing-up. It keeps me grounded." It was Patel's mother, Anita, a care-worker, who secured his break in acting after she spotted an advert for an audition for what became the cult E4 series Skins. He had only ever done school plays until then.

Patel, whose father, Raj, is an accountant, said both his parents had been incredibly supportive. "They really have been my rock, and my mum especially," he said.

"Skins was a surreal experience," he added. "You can probably see I didn't have self-confidence." But from that he was chosen by Boyle to be the sole British cast member in Slumdog Millionaire, which is proving a hit in America and opens in Britain next month.

Two other Film4 movies were the other major winners last night.

Hunger, the harrowing story of Bobby Sands's IRA hunger strike, won the best debut director's honour for Steve McQueen. It was the first feature film from the Turner Prize-winning artist.

It also took the best actor award for Michael Fassbender, who plays Sands, and best technical achievement for Sean Bobbitt, the director of photography.

McQueen, 39, said that he was pleased that the awards and the people of Britain had "embraced a film about a period of history that was overlooked for 27 years".

Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky, which was set and filmed in north London, also took two prizes. Eddie Marsan won best supporting actor and Alexis Zegerman best supporting actress. They both paid tribute to its star, Sally Hawkins.

Stars including Anne-Marie Duff, Sir Ben Kingsley, Francesca Annis and Adrian Lester were among the guests at last night's ceremony.