Benedict Cumberbatch to Receive 2013 Britannia Award

BAFTA Los Angeles is pleased to announce that Benedict Cumberbatch will be the recipient of this year's BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year, presented at the annual gala ceremony in November.

The Britannia Awards are BAFTA Los Angeles' highest accolade, a celebration of achievements honoring individuals and companies that have dedicated their careers to advancing the entertainment arts.

The Britannia Awards will be held Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

"Benedict Cumberbatch has had a remarkable year, and as one of the UK's leading talents he truly exemplifies the continued respect that British talents have garnered around the globe," says Gary Dartnall, Chairman, BAFTA Los Angeles. "Masterfully performing in TV, Film and Theatre and never failing to astound us with his talent and versatility, BAFTA Los Angeles is proud to honor Benedict as our British Artist of the Year."

The Britannia Awards are presented annually at a gala dinner. Proceeds from the gala ceremony support BAFTA Los Angeles' on-going education, scholarship, community outreach and archival projects.

George Clooney Benedict will join our previously-announced honorees. The incomparable George Clooney will receive the prestigious Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film as part of the evening's festivities.

Academy and BAFTA Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow will be presented with the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing.

Academy and BAFTA Award-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley will receive the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment

For the second year in a row, the awards will be broadcast on BBC AMERICA, airing in primetime November 10, 2013 at 8pm ET as a two-hour special including footage of the Britannia Awards Red Carpet.

Cumberbatch's upcoming movie projects include The Fifth Estate, 12 Years a Slave, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, Magik, The Imitation Game and Flying Horse. He is well known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the UK series "Sherlock". Other recent film credits include J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS and the upcoming adaptation of the Tony award-winning play AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, with Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.

The actor starred in Steven Spielberg's War Horse film adaptation and in 2011 alternated leads in Danny Boyle's production of FRANKENSTEIN. His other theatre credits include 'Hedda Gabler', for which he received an Olivier Award nomination.