Ewan McGregor has been named as the recipient of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles (BAFTA Los Angeles) Britannia Humanitarian Award. McGregor will honored at a gala awards event taking place on October 28, 2016 in Los Angeles, CA. Actor/comedian Jack Whitehall is hosting the celebration which recognizes “exceptional individuals who have dedicated their careers to advancing the art forms of the moving image in the US, UK and beyond.”
This year’s other award recipients include Ang Lee who will receive the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing and Samuel L. Jackson who will be receiving the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment. Ricky Gervais has also been named as the winner of the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy award.
McGregor was chosen as this year’s Britannia Humanitarian Award winner for his work with UNICEF. Per the official announcement, McGregor is being recognized for traveling to Northern Iraq to “see how the conflicts sweeping across Iraq and Syria are devastating children’s lives.” McGregor is helping to “bring awareness to the unimaginable horrors facing these children,” and is working with UNICEF to an effort to provide “lifesaving food and water, child protection services, and healthcare to those families in need.”
Previous Britannia Humanitarian Award winners include Idris Elba, Richard Curtis, Don Cheadle, Colin Firth, Mark Ruffalo, and Orlando Bloom.
“Ewan McGregor is not only a multi-talented individual, but has led by example in showing that even one person can make a huge difference in the life of a child,” stated Kieran Breen, Chairman of BAFTA Los Angeles. “Given his most recent work in Iraq, and ongoing commitment to the fight against the horrific conditions in which children there are living, he is most deserving of this honor. We are thrilled to be able to recognize his work and shed light on the initiatives about which he is most passionate.”
McGregor’s directorial debut, American Pastoral, will open in theaters on October 21, 2016. He also has Trainspotting 2 and Beauty and the Beast coming to theaters in 2017. In addition, McGregor’s starring in season three of FX’s critically acclaimed award-winning series Fargo where he’ll be playing brothers Emmit and Ray Stussy.
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