The Evening Standard British Film Awards. Sunday, 3rd of February 2002. The Savoy Hotel, London.
THE SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - MR. CHRISTOPHER LEE, C.B.E.
"I am, of course, very pleased to receive this award and that many of my collegues congratulated me on it. This award meant a lot to me"- Christopher Lee
The judges: Neil Norman and Alexander Walker from the Evening Standard, Derek Malcom of The Guardian, Angie Errigo of Empire magazine and film journalist and film-maker Richard Jobson.
After a few couple of names were thrown into the ring as deserving of this occasional award, one emerged as clear winner. For a career that spanned well over half a century and notched up an extraordinary 200-plus films -quite probably more than any living actor - as well as having moved from screen villain to British movie icon, the panel were unanimous in the decision to give the award this year to Christopher Lee. -Neil Norman, Evening Standard
Screen veteran Christopher Lee, who plays evil wizard Saruman in The Lord of the Rings, received a special achievement award or a career spanning 55 years and more than 200 films.
Although often best remembered for his appearances in many Hammer classics, the 79-year-old insisted: "I haven't done what is known as a horror movie for over a quarter of a century but because they turn up on television all the time people think I'm still making them -Baz Bamigboye, Daily Mail
The award was presented by Pierce Brosnan in a standing ovation. Guests included Ewan McGregor, Sir Ben Kingsley, Greta Scacchi, Anna Paquin, Mick Jaeger, Sir Tim Rice and Tony Blair.
The other winners are:
Best Film: Gosford Park, director Robert Altman.
Best Actor: Linus Roache for Pandaemonium.
Best Actress: Kate Winslet for Enigma, Quills and Iris.
The Peter Sellers Award for Comedy: Hugh Grant for Bridget Jone's Dairy.
Best Screenplay: Richard Curtis, Andrew Davies and Helen Fielding for Bridget Jone;s Diary.
Carlton TV Most Promising Newcomer: Ben Hopkins for The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz.
Technical Archievment: Stuart Craig for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Tonight, the awards will be presented on Carlton TV at 11.30 pm. We will upload a video recording with Mr Lee receiving his award and Pierce Brosnan's tribute.
A special thank you from this web site goes to Mr. Neil Norman from of The Evening Standard for his very kind cooperation and assistance.
Time to setup an award's database, there are more to come and sooner than you think.
Congrats to Mr Lee for receiving this auspicious award!
I saw the comment about setting up an awards' database because there is more to come....
I would imagine a VERY huge database will be needed for what is in store this year and the coming years for our beloved Christopher Lee!
Carmen & Greg
Sir,
May I add my name to the growing list of your fans in expressing my pleasure in your recieving this award. This and the many you have received and will continue to recieve are well deserved. Not to mention way over due in most cases. To your continued success.
BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO! I wish to echo the sentiments of the earlier postings and say that this long overdue award is far beyond deserved! I hope the Lees are forced to build an addition onto their home just to hold all the awards coming to their home. I have never been happier! Did anyone else notice how simply joyous James Bond (Mr. Brosnan) appeared as he passed the award to the Bond supervillain Mr. Scaramanga? From that photo I sensed that Mr. Brosnan too recognizes the significance and importance of Mr. Lee and his career, and that makes Mr. Brosnan one of US! Mr. Lee you should know I along with many others here in the USA literally yelled out in delight when we saw this wonderful news!
Sorry for the Bond-ian subject line. Can't resist that old Bond marketing tag-line as it is an all-time favorite of mine, and somehow it fits the situation.
Anyway, it is indeed great news that Mr. Lee is receiving the recognition that he has long deserved. One of many awards and assuredly one of many more yet to come! Congratulations Mr. Lee...you deserve it!
Cheers!
Mr. Lee ,
I too wish to add my name to the growing list of your Fans in expressing my congardulations to you in your reciveing this award and I hope too that you do get to see LOTR : Return of the King as well in December 2003 , as well as your performance in the film and I do hope that you would be in the Star Wars Episode III too , so another one for your Award Cabinet huh , I hope next years Honorary Oscar or your Knighthood fits 
, Sir Chirstopher Lee CBE like the sound of that , and here's to many more awards for your award case , as they say in the Forest Gump film that '' Life is like a box of Chocolates you 'll never know what you're going to get '' .
Congradulations Mr. Lee .
Best Regards ,
Amy Maloney
Congratulations for a very well deserved tribute and award!