Kristin Scott Thomas Awarded Damehood By Queen

Kristin Scott Thomas has come face-to-face with her next stage character after receiving a damehood from the Queen.

The theatre and film actress said she was "clearly very happy" after being honoured by the monarch for her service to drama at Buckingham Palace.

Dame Kristin, 54, is set to play the Queen on the London stage from April.

She takes over from Dame Helen Mirren in The Audience which is inspired by the Queen's private weekly meetings with the country's prime ministers over her six-decade reign.

On what the Queen said to her as she presented the honour, Dame Kristin said: "She asked me what I was doing next, so I had to tell her and she said it would be quite a challenge."

It is the latest role for the Cornwall-born actress whose career has seen her honoured in both the UK and France where she now lives.

She was made an OBE in 2003 and two years later was presented with France's Legion d'Honneur in recognition of her career.

Dame Kristin joins other big British stars such as Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Judi Dench and Dame Diana Rigg.

The star is perhaps best known for roles in The English Patient, Gosford Park and Four Weddings And A Funeral.

Her latest film Suite Francais, which also stars Michelle Williams, is in cinemas now.

Dame Kristin was among 70 people who received their awards at the ceremony.

Campaigners Margaret Aspinall and Trevor Hicks, who fought for a quarter of a century for justice for the 96 people who died in the Hillsborough disaster are to receive their CBEs.

Ms Aspinall, who lost her son James, 18, in the tragedy while Mr Hicks, whose daughters Sarah, 19, and Victoria, 15, also died have been honoured for their services to the bereaved Hillsborough families.

Ms Aspinall chairs the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG), while Mr Hicks is president of the group.