Helen Mirren.
Helen Mirren last night accused the Oscar-winning British film-maker Sam Mendes of sexism after the director failed to mention any women as influences during an acceptance speech at the Empire awards.
Speaking as she picked up her own "Legend" award on stage, Mirren berated the director of recent James Bond movie Skyfall for citing Paul Thomas Anderson, François Truffaut, Martin Scorsese and Ingmar Bergman, but ignoring the contributions of female film-makers in Hollywood. Mendes had earlier picked up awards for best director, best film and the Empire "Inspiration" award at the ceremony in central London.
"I don't want to unduly pick on Sam Mendes, but when he spoke about his inspirations earlier this evening, I'm afraid not a single one of the people he mentioned was a woman," said Mirren, to cheers from the audience. "Hopefully in five or 10 years, when Sam's successor is collecting their Inspiration award, the list will be slightly more balanced in terms of its sexual make-up. In the meantime, this one is for the girls."
Elsewhere, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey won prizes for best actor (Martin Freeman) and best science-fiction or fantasy film. Best actress went to The Hunger Games' Jennifer Lawrence, who won the equivalent Oscar this year for her work on a different film, Silver Linings Playbook. The Impossible's Tom Holland won best male newcomer, and the equivalent female prize went to Les Miserables' Samantha Barks. Best British film went to Sightseers, Ben Wheatley's black comedy about two lovers on a caravan holiday who embark on a murderous rampage.
Danny Boyle won the outstanding contribution award. The Empire awards are voted for by the film magazine's 2.8-million readership.
Full list of winners
Best film: Skyfall
Best British film: Sightseers
Best actor: Martin Freeman (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey)
Best actress: Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games)
Best director: Sam Mendes (Skyfall)
Best male newcomer: Tom Holland (The Impossible)
Best female newcomer: Samantha Barks (Les Misérables)
Best comedy: Ted
Best horror: The Woman in Black
Best thriller: Headhunters
Best sci fi/fantasy: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Art of 3D award: Dredd 3D
Empire Hero: Daniel Radcliffe
Empire Inspiration award: Sam Mendes
Empire Legend: Helen Mirren
Empire outstanding contribution: Danny Boyle – © Guardian News and Media 2013