'I feel like an adopted son' says Kevin Spacey as he is knighted by the Queen for services to theatre and thanks Brits for their support
- US star said he was 'honored and humbled' by the recognition from Queen
- Spacey is finishing 10-year run as artistic director at London's Old Vic
- He is widely credited with helping turn around the once struggling theatre
- Other actors included in honours list included Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne
Knighted by the Queen: Actor Kevin Spacey
Kevin
Spacey claims he feels like 'an adopted son' after being awarded an
honorary knighthood for his services to culture and British theatre.
The
US star, who is finishing a 10-year run as artistic director at
London's Old Vic theatre, said he was 'honored and humbled' by the
recognition and thanked Britons for supporting his work.
He
was just one of a host of film stars to be given a gong in this year's
Queen's Honours List - with Benedict Cumberbatch winning a CBE and Eddie
Redmayne an OBE.
The
two-times Academy Award winner took over as artistic director of the
Old Vic in 2003 and is widely credited with helping turn around the once
struggling theatre.
Earlier
in the year, the Oscar-winner was presented with a Special Award by
Dame Judi Dench at the Olivier Awards for his outstanding contribution
to the institution.
Stars of the acting world also paid tribute to Spacey at a gala event at the Old Vic, celebrating his tenure there.
Mark
Gatiss, who starred in All About My Mother at the Old Vic in 2008, said
Spacey had been 'amazingly supportive' during the run.
'He's done an incredible job, he's totally revitalised this place and it's the end of an era' he told the BBC.
The gala was hosted by Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville who praised Spacey's work at the theatre.
'Not
only has he brought his own stage talent as an actor to The Old Vic and
given it that bit of Hollywood glamour, if you like, because he is such
an amazing stage, as well as screen, actor, but he's really dug the
roots of The Old Vic deeper than they were before,' he said on the red
carpet.
'They've
brought actors from America, actors from Britain together and have
spread that stage talent all over the world, so where do you start? He
can do everything. And he can play the harmonica.'
In
his departing speech, Spacey referred to the Old Vic's lack of
government subsidy asking why the theatre was not treated as 'a national
treasure'.
Spacey starred in Clarence Darrow (above) and a number of other Old Vic productions including Richard III
The US star, who is finishing a
10-year run as artistic director at London's Old Vic theatre, said he
was 'honored and humbled' by the recognition
Spacey, 55, has starred in nine productions at the theatre, including the critically acclaimed 'Richard III'.
'What
Kevin's done is literally made a massive difference to what was an old
building that, actually, nobody came to,' Sally Greene, The Old Vic
Chief Executive, said.
The
theatre, which opened in 1818 and has seen a host of names such as
Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud and Peggy Ashcroft perform on its stage,
has appointed theatre director Matthew Warchus as Spacey's successor.
Spacey
is one of Hollywood's biggest names, having starred in The Usual
Suspects, American Beauty and Netflix political thriller House of Cards.
Earlier in the year, the
Oscar-winner was presented with a Special Award by Dame Judi Dench at
the Olivier Awards for his outstanding contribution to the theatre
In his
departing speech, Spacey referred to the Old Vic's lack of government
subsidy asking why the theatre was not treated as 'a national treasure'
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