Starring at the Standard awards

Tony Blair was a surprise guest at the Evening Standard British Film Awards for 2001 - but the Prime Minister got a surprise of his own.

It was mischievously suggested that Mr Blair was the "sizzling" inspiration for the Mark Darcy portrayed by Bridget Jones's Diary heart-throb Colin Firth.

Richard Curtis and co-writer Helen Fielding collected the Evening Standard Best Screenplay award from the Prime Minister, who said he had enjoyed the "shrewdly observed" film immensely.

In return, Curtis said that like Mr Darcy, Mr Blair was "full of intelligence, fighting for justice here and abroad - and sizzling with repressed sexuality". The Prime Minister looked suitably abashed.

They joined a host of British film's finest - and a smattering of Hollywood visitors - at The Savoy for last night's ceremony, presented by Jack Dee.

Introducing the awards, outgoing Evening Standard editor Max Hastings said: "It is a pleasure to see such a dazzling assembly of talent, the men and women responsible for giving us some of the greatest entertainment on earth."

The audience, including Sir Ben Kingsley, Charles Dance, Terry Gilliam, Jade Jagger, Kate Winslet, Anna Paquin, and Timothy Spall roared their approval of Robert Altman, 76, the American director whose Gosford Park won the Best Film Award, and veteran actor Christopher Lee, who received the Special Achievement Award.

Lee, 79, whose roles have included Bond villain Scaramanga in The Man With The Golden Gun, was presented with his award by the British super-spy's current incarnation, Pierce Brosnan, 48.

Kate Winslet took the Best Actress prize, despite the strong claims of Dame Judi Dench and Kelly Macdonald. She was presented with her award by Mick Jagger, producer of Enigma, who said she "brings an intelligence to every part she plays".

Jagger jokingly referred to her roles in Iris - which opens with her swimming underwater - and Titanic, saying: "Her ability to act well in water always astounds me." Winslet was honoured for her part in three films, Enigma, Quills, and the hot Oscar tip Iris.

Linus Roache won the Best Actor award for Samuel Coleridge in Pandaemonium, but was abroad filmingand unable to collect the award in person, which was presented by Hollywood actors Anna Paquin and Jake Gyllemhaal.

Canadian Miss Paquin, 19, who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1993 for her role in Jane Campion's The Piano, is in London to star alongside Mr Gyllemhaal and Hayden Chistensen - who plays Anakin Skywalker in the forthcoming Star Wars movie - on stage at The Garrick Theatre.

Greta Scacchi presented production designer Stuart Craig with the Best Technical Achievement Award for the magic he has woven in the first Harry Potter film.

Hugh Grant was a hugely popular winner of The Peter Sellers Award for Comedy for his portrayal of the hapless cad Daniel Cleaver in Bridget Jones's Diary, opposite Renee Zellweger.

Grant, 41, sent a message from Los Angeles via video in typically selfdeprecating style: "The whole project for me was a little bit scary because, as you probably know, I like on the whole as an actor to play exactly the same part in every single film I do." Ewan McGregor, presenting director Ben Hopkins, 32, with the Carlton Television Best Newcomer award for his compelling vision of London The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz.

The ceremony will be screened tonight on Carlton at 11.30pm.

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