Theatre News

Harwood & Zeta-Jones in Birthday Honours List

| London | London's West End |

14 June 2010

Writers and actors Ronald Harwood, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sophie Okonedo, Bonnie Greer, John Nettles, Anne Reid and Blanche Marvin are among the names on this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Oscar-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, who won a Tony Award yesterday for her appearance in A Little Night Music on Broadway, has been appointed a CBE, while fellow Academy Award holder Harwood received a knighthood for services to drama.

Speaking to the BBC, Harwood said he was “very proud” to receive the award. “I haven’t quite taken it in” he added, “I came here as an immigrant, from South Africa when I was 17 in 1951, so it’s been quite a long journey.”

Other honours went to actors John Nettles and Sophie Okonedo, and American born playwright and critic Bonnie Greer, who were given OBEs in yesterday’s list.

English National Ballet principal dancer Agnes Oaks was awarded a CBE for services to the arts, alongside Susan Carroll Sainsbury, deputy chair of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Blanche Marvin, a veteran theatre reviewer and founder of the Empty Space Awards, received an honorary MBE.

Actress Anne Reid, who rose to fame in Coronation Street, was awarded and MBE – the long-running ITV soap was also represented on the list by long-serving stars Eileen Derbyshire and Barbara Knox, who were also made MBEs.