Whatever next, they’re giving knighthoods to the colonials! New Zealand born filmmaker Peter Jackson will be celebrating today as it’s been announced that he’ll be receiving a New Zealand knighthood and will therefore become Sir Peter Jackson (as the Queen is still head of state in New Zealand, it’s a proper knighthood decided by the islands’ government and sanctioned by the Queen, unlike the honorary ones handed to the likes of Steven Spielberg).
Other figures from the world of film given British New Year Honours includes Patrick Stewart, who receives a well deserved knighthood following nearly 50 years as one of the UKs leading stage actors and more recently as one of our top film and TV stars following his work in the likes of Star Trek: TNG and X-Men.
Nicholas Hytner also picks up a knighthood. He’s mainly being honoured for being the artistic director of the National Theatre, but he’s also the director of film versions of The Madness Of King George (for which he won a BAFTA), The Crucible, Twelfth Night and The History Boys, amongst others.
Another honoree is Phyllida Lloyd. ‘Who’s she?’ I hear you cry. Well, she’s the director of the stage and screen versions of Mamma Mia, which is apparently deserving of a CBE (I’m sure she’s done other stuff as well, but that’s the main thing she’s known for).
Congratulations to them all.