U.K.'s Variety Club Awards Honor McKellen and Spacey

By Mark Shenton
17 Nov 2009

Ian McKellen and Kevin Spacey were among those honored at this year's annual Variety Club Showbiz Awards, presented Nov. 15 at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, by the charity that is dedicated to working with sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people.

The veteran stage and screen actor Ian McKellen was presented with the Bernard Delfont Award for outstanding contribution to Showbusiness, while Kevin Spacey, artistic director of London's Old Vic Theatre, received the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre.

Accepting his award, McKellen commented, "The Variety Club is the essence of life for kids who desperately need the help to get healthy. I am full of admiration for the work you have done for the past 60 years and hope you carry on with the work you do. I am extremely honored to be associated with this charity and this award." Of his own award, he said, "This is an over-generous recognition of a career which, in truth, has been its own award."

Seven other awards were made, including one to Michael Sheen for Film Actor of the Year.

The ceremony, now in its 57th year, is also the U.K.'s longest-running televised awards ceremony, and will be screened on FIVE on Nov. 22 at 3:35pm.

For further details, visit www.varietyclub.org.uk.