Harry Potter actress recieves honorary CBE

Irish actress Fiona Shaw tonight received an honorary CBE from British Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and described it as an honour for the people of Ireland.

Best known for her roles in the recent Harry Potter film and the Hollywood comedy Three Men and a Little Lady, Ms Shaw was awarded the honour in the New Year list of 2001 in recognition of her services to drama.

Miss Jowell said during the presentation at her offices in central London: ‘‘Fiona is widely respected as an actress of outstanding talent who has brought to life a rich variety of characters on stage, film and television. Her contribution particularly to the theatre has been of inestimable value.’’

During the awards ceremony the actress described how she had come a long way from when she first arrived in London and stayed at an old flat in Camden Town.

About the honorary CBE she said: ‘‘Politically I feel it’s a wonderful sign of the best fusion of both our countries - it’s fantastic for Ireland and an honour for Irish people.’’

The actress, who was born in Cork, also had a distinguished stage career and has appeared in many classical roles.

Many of her performances have been at the National Theatre and she is now devising and acting in the first play to be staged at the National’s new performance space next month, an adaptation of Jeanette Winterson’s novel The Powerbook.

Ms Shaw has previously received three Laurence Olivier awards for best actress, two London

critics’ awards and a New York critics’ award.

But the public will probably best remember her for her role playing Aunt Petunia in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and the headmistress in Three Men and a Little Lady.