Images of Fiona

Award-winning actress Fiona Shaw finds a new audience today as a new and larger-than-life portrait of her is unveiled today at the National Portrait Gallery.

Shaw, who was named best actress in last year's Evening Standard Theatre Awards, is most famous for playing a host of classical roles, from Electra to Richard II, in theatres across the capital.

The triple Olivier winner stepped onto the global movie stage last year in Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, playing the young wizard's wicked aunt Mrs Dursley.

The 6ft by 4ft portrait, commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery, was painted by artist Victoria Russell, who formerly trained at St Martins and the Royal Academy. The oil painting pictures a bra-clad Shaw sitting bolt upright in a wooden chair. During her preparations for the portrait, the artist shadowed the actress behind the scenes while she was appearing in Medea last year.

The actress, who expressed regret that the sitting was over, said: "I'm delighted with the painting."

The painting is the second portrait by Russell to appear in the gallery's permanent collection. It was commissioned by the gallery as part of her first prize two years ago for the painting Two Women In White in the National Portrait Gallery BP Portrait Award.