Serkis Puts Stop To Redmayne's Winning Streak

After an awards season where Eddie Redmayne grabbed all of the headlines, the actor has now been pipped to a film award.

The Theory Of Everything star, who won the best actor Oscar and BAFTA, was beaten by Andy Serkis for his role in Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes at the Jameson Empire Awards.

The British actor was recognised for his motion-action performance, which has become a style of acting that has brought him to attention after he played Gollum in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and first Hobbit film.

The British star, who also played King Kong in Jackson's 2005 remake of the Hollywood classic, also beat stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Armitage and Bradley Cooper to be named best actor at the award ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Serkis said: "I'm really thrilled and excited because finally, performance capture is respected across the board and considered on par as any other actor.

"You can't compare performances. They're all good and different but I'm glad I have touched audiences as much as a live actor can and been recognised for it."

Christopher Nolan's outer space adventure Interstellar was the big winner of the night, as it picked up three prizes including best film.

The British film-maker was also named best director, and took home the Inspiration award.

Ralph Fiennes said he would "bat away" his newly acquired "Legend" title, joking it was only for dead people.

The Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning actor and director received the honour from Liam Neeson.

"I'm not (a legend). I said in my speech that the 'L' word is for dead people," he said backstage.

"I'm flattered, but it's not the case. It's lovely but you've got to bat it away with appreciation because I don't feel like a legend for a moment.

"It's all other people that make us look good."

Other winners included Rosamund Pike, former Doctor Who star Karen Gillan and Kingsman: The Secret Service actor Taron Egerton, scooping the best male newcomer prize.

Kingsman, directed by Matthew Vaughn and starring Colin Firth, Mark Strong and Sir Michael Caine, won best British film.

The Imitation Game, starring Cumberbatch as wartime code-breaker Alan Turing, was named best thriller, while Paddington was voted best comedy.

X-Men: Days Of Future Past was named best sci-fi/fantasy film and The Babadook was voted best horror.

Fantasy sci-fi show Game Of Thrones, based on George R R Martin's books, took the Empire Hero award.

Stars including Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe attended the star-studded ceremony, which was hosted by James Nesbitt.