Billy Connolly Receives BAFTA's 'Outstanding Contribution Award'

One of Scotland’s most successful talents of all time, Billy Connolly discussed his life and career at a very special public event last night (Monday 10th December) in Glasgow, entitled ‘BAFTA A Life in Pictures’, sponsored by Deutsche Bank.

Hosted by Francine Stock, the ‘Big Yin’ - as he is affectionately known - talked candidly in front of a 500-strong crowd about his diverse career in comedy, music and film, as well as his latest film project, Quartet, directed by Dustin Hoffman.

Billy also collected his British Academy Scotland Award for his Outstanding Contribution to Television and Film, which was presented to him by Kevin Bridges. Billy was unable to attend the awards ceremony in Glasgow last month due to filming commitments.

Past recipients of the Outstanding Contribution Award include Sir Sean Connery, Brian Cox and Robbie Coltrane; the ‘BAFTA A Life in Pictures’ series has hosted leading names including Dustin Hoffman, Robert Carlyle and Cate Blanchett, many of which can be viewed on BAFTA’s new online learning portal, BAFTA Guru (www.bafta.org/guru).

‘BAFTA A Life in Pictures’ is a long-running series of on stage interviews in which some of the film world’s leading talent discuss their life and career and share insights into the experiences that helped them hone and develop their crafts.

Billy Connolly’s career as a successful comedian, musician, television presenter and actor spans more than six decades. He has appeared in over 30 films including Indecent Proposal, The Last Samurai, Gulliver’s Travels and Mrs Brown, for which he was nominated for a BAFTA in 1997.

More recently, he voiced King Fergus in Pixar’s Brave, and appears in Quartet, Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut, scheduled for release in January 2013. He will also play Dáin Ironfoot, the dwarf warrior in Peter Jackson’s forthcoming and much anticipated three-part production of The Hobbit.

Says Jude MacLaverty, Director of BAFTA in Scotland: “We are thrilled that Billy is a recipient of an Outstanding Contribution Award. He is a true master of his craft and continues to be a massive inspiration to a whole new generation of Scottish talent.

“Age shows no sign of mellowing the Big Yin – he’s still a force to be reckoned with at 70; a huge talent and one of the world’s best loved comedians, actor and all round amazing musician.

“His ability to make everyday incidents riotously funny is remarkable and we were delighted to welcome him back home for this special BAFTA A Life in Pictures event documenting his incredible career, spanning over four decades.”

About BAFTA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round Learning & Events programme that offers unique access to some of the world’s most inspiring talent through workshops, masterclasses, lectures and mentoring schemes, connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds across the UK, Los Angeles and New York. BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. For further information, visit www.bafta.org and www.bafta.org/guru.

About Deutsche Bank Asset & Wealth Management

With approximately €900 billion* of invested assets, Deutsche Bank Asset & Wealth Management (AWM) is one of the world's leading investment organisations. AWM helps individuals and institutions worldwide to protect and grow their wealth, offering traditional and alternative investments across all major asset classes. AWM also provides customised wealth management solutions and private banking services to high-net-worth individuals and families. For further information, visit www.db.com.