LONDON (AP) 鈥� , one of the world’s most acclaimed actors, was added Friday to a very select group of people recognized by for their 鈥渕ajor contribution鈥� over the years to British life.
The 80-year-old was named a 鈥淐ompanion of Honour,鈥� one of the highest awards the king can bestow to citizens in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth, limited to only 65 people at any time.
Mirren’s elevation to the group, which also includes British environmentalist , Canadian author and former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, was one of the highlights of Charles’ latest award of honors.
The honors, which aim to reward individuals for their contributions to British life, are awarded twice a year to celebrities and public figures as well as ordinary people, once at New Year鈥檚, and then in June, to mark the king鈥檚 birthday.
Nearly 1,200 people received honors in the king鈥檚 2026 birthday list,
The award recognizes Mirren’s services to drama
Mirren is and has for decades been a star on stage and screen, as well as a .
She has tackled numerous classical parts in theater 鈥� both in the National Youth Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company from the 1960s 鈥� before winning roles in movies such as 鈥淭he Long Good Friday,鈥� 鈥淓xcalibur,鈥� and 鈥淭he Madness of King George.鈥�
She also wowed British television audiences with her portrayal of Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison over seven seasons of 鈥淧rime Suspect.鈥�
At in 2007, she won best actress for her performance in 鈥淭he Queen,” a film that follows the late Queen Elizabeth II in the aftermath of the 1997 death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
The awards recognize an array of achievements
Introduced in 1917 by King George V, the “Companion of Honour” recognizes people who have made 鈥渁 major contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government” over an extended time period.
They remain members until they die, when a replacement is then added. A new member will likely be named at the next honors list in the new year following the death Thursday of , one of the most popular and critically lauded British artists of the last century.
Others recognized on Friday include British author Julia Donaldson, who last year surpassed Harry Potter writer JK Rowling as U.K.鈥檚 all-time top author, with more than 50 million books sold worldwide. She was named a dame, the female equivalent of a knighthood, for services to literature, a title that Mirren herself was awarded in 2003.
鈥淩eceiving this honor has been a very happy surprise,鈥� said the 77-year-old author of such books as ” and 鈥淭he Highway Rat.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 really gratifying to have children鈥檚 books recognized in this way,” she added.
Success in sports was also recognized on Friday, with Kevin Sinfield knighted for his glittering rugby league career and subsequent fundraising exploits to aid research and support families affected by motor neuron disease, a neurological disorder.
The 45-year-old has raised over 11 million pounds ($15 million) since being inspired by his friend and his teammate , who died from the disease in 2024.
Golf’s two-time Ryder Cup winning captain was handed the Order of the British Empire. He will attempt to become the first person in Ryder Cup history to lead a team to three consecutive wins against the United States next year in Ireland.
, who scored the winning penalty for England’s women’s soccer team in Euro 2025, became member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, along with six other teammates.
Other notable recipients were Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi for services to music and charity nearly a year after the death of the band’s legendary lead singer . Broadcaster and the former lead singer of Catatonia Cerys Matthews was recognized for her services to music.
The awards are not just for the famous
The array of awards are chosen by civil servants鈥� committees based on nominations from the government and the public. They are usually given out by the king or a senior royal acting in his place, increasingly at Windsor Castle where Charles largely resides.
The honors don鈥檛 just reward people in the public eye.
Debbie Lewis, who set up the bereavement support group COVID-19 Families U.K. after her father died in 2020 of the coronavirus, just four months after her mother鈥檚 death.
Lewis first wrote on Facebook that her father had just died and she was on her own, hoping to connect with others going through something similar. Within a week, 40 people had contacted her.
Six years on, there are more than 4,500 people in Lewis鈥檚 support network.
鈥淚鈥檓 still a little bit in shock,鈥� the 56-year-old said of her honor on Friday. 鈥淚 know it鈥檚 a huge achievement and I鈥檓 just a little bit overwhelmed at the moment.鈥�
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