Honours for Kristin Scott Thomas, James Corden and Sheridan Smith

Kristin Scott Thomas has been made a Dame and John Hurt a Knight in the New Year's Honours list, which was published today.

Scott Thomas, who next year will follow in fellow Dame Helen Mirren's footsteps by playing the Queen in Peter Morgan's The Audience, said she was "thrilled, astonished and worried that I might suddenly wake up".

James Corden and Sheridan Smith, who have both forged successful stage and screen careers and are former winners and hosts of the WhatsOnStage Awards, are given OBEs.

"I'm thrilled, overwhelmed and honoured to be recognised in such a way," said Corden, who rose to fame in The History Boys and is currently starring in the screen adaptation of Into the Woods. "I feel very lucky to be born in a country where creativity is both encouraged and valued."

Other stars recognised include Emily Watson (OBE), Meera Syal (CBE) and Joan Collins, who receives Damehood.

There are also honours for four long-serving artistic directors: Northern Broadsides' Barrie Rutter (OBE), Leicester Curve's Paul Kerryson (MBE), Liverpool Unity Theatre's Graeme Phillips (MBE) and The Mission Theatre's Ann Garner.

Designers Es Devlin (OBE) and Tom Piper (MBE) are also recognised, the latter for his work on the Tower of London poppies installation.

Playwright and screenwriter William Nicholson, whose credits include the Oscar-winning film adaptation of Les Miserables, is recognised with an OBE. Theatre and opera director Richard Jones is made a CBE, while John Woolf, the RSC's head of music, is given an MBE.

Elsewhere, co-founder of the London International Mime Festival Joseph Seelig is given an OBE, as is Festivals Edinburgh director Faith Liddell. And outgoing Arts Council chief executive Alan Davey and Southbank Centre's Jude Kelly both receive CBEs.

Look out for our upcoming interview with James Corden