Hilary Mantel becomes a Dame (and Dame Maggie gets a new award)

  • Writer of Bring Up The Bodies, 61, who has a CBE, now becomes a dame
  • Oscar-winning star Dame Maggie Smith elevated to Companion of Honour
  • Actor Daniel Day-Lewis, first man to win three Oscars, is knighted
  • Winter Olympian Lizzy Yarnold, first to win a gold medal, awarded an MBE
  • Visually impaired skier Kelly Gallagher and guide Charlotte Evans honoured

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 16:46 EST, 13 June 2014 | Updated: 02:46 EST, 14 June 2014


Best-selling author Hilary Mantel becomes a dame for a lifetime of service to literature.

The popular writer, 61, whose novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies about the life of Henry VIII’s adviser Thomas Cromwell have been critical and commercial hits, already has a CBE.

She has also been controversial, once claiming the Duchess of Cambridge was portrayed as a ‘shop window mannequin’ whose only purpose was to breed.

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Awards: Critically acclaimed author Hilary Mantel will be made a dame for a lifetime of service to literature

Awards: Critically acclaimed author Hilary Mantel will be made a dame for a lifetime of service to literature

Accolade: Oscar-winning actress Dame Maggie Smith, 79, has been elevated to Companion of Honour

Accolade: Oscar-winning actress Dame Maggie Smith, 79, has been elevated to Companion of Honour

During a lecture at the British Museum last year, Miss Mantel criticised Kate for appearing to have been ‘gloss-varnished’ with a perfect plastic smile who was ‘painfully thin’ and selected for her role of princess because she posed no risk of showing any character.

Last night she said: ‘I’m delighted to receive this honour. It’s given for services to literature, but I see it not so much as a reward for the past, more as encouragement for the future.’

Oscar-winning star Dame Maggie Smith has been elevated to a Companion of Honour.

 

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The 79-year-old, recently best known as the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey and Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, has had an extensive career stretching back to the 1950s and has collected numerous awards.

Daniel Day-Lewis, the first man to win three best actor Oscars, is knighted.

The 55-year-old actor, the son of former poet laureate Cecil Day-Lewis and actress Jill Balcon, said: ‘I’m entirely amazed and utterly delighted in equal measure.’

Honour: Daniel Day-Lewis, the first man to win three Oscars, has been knighted

Honour: Daniel Day-Lewis, the first man to win three Oscars, has been knighted

Damian Lewis, star of US drama series Homeland, receives the OBE. The 43-year-old, married to actress Helen McCrory, said: ‘I decided to do the very un-British thing of accepting the compliment.’

Writer Hunter Davies, 78, who wrote the only authorised biography of the Beatles, also receives the OBE and said he was looking forward to visiting the palace having taken his brother-in-law there when he was honoured 20 years ago.

Entertainer John Barrowman said he was thrilled by his award of an MBE for his services to entertainment and charity.

Singer and broadcaster Cerys Matthews landed an MBE for her services to music, and there was an OBE for showbusiness agent and impresario Jonathan Shalit.

Sporting: Lizzy Yarnold, who won Britain's first gold of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, is awarded an MBE

Sporting: Lizzy Yarnold, who won Britain's first gold of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, is awarded an MBE

Classical pianist Andras Schiff receives a knighthood, while an MBE goes to Nicola Clarke, chairman of the Military Wives Choirs Foundation. A CBE goes to Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time presenter Roy Lancaster, while an OBE goes to Mercury Prize-winning musician Talvin Singh.

BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet receives an OBE for services to British broadcast journalism.

In sport, Britain’s Winter Olympians are honoured. Skeleton gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold, who won Britain’s first gold medal of the Sochi 2014 Games, receives an MBE, as do visually impaired skier Kelly Gallagher and her guide Charlotte Evans, who won Britain’s first ever gold in the Winter Paralympics.

England women’s cricket captain Charlotte Edwards receives a CBE, with an MBE going to her deputy Jenny Gunn.

 

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Let's hope Prince William isn't on duty the day Hilary Mantel goes to pick up her award.

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During a lecture at the British Museum last year, Miss Mantel criticised Kate for appearing to have been ¿gloss-varnished¿ with a perfect plastic smile who was ¿painfully thin¿ and selected for her role of princess because she posed no risk of showing any character. ========================================================= Maybe William will have something to say to her when he bestows the honour on her? Something along the lines of : "I would never climb over her to get to you", perhaps ? It amazes me that someone with a face like Miss Mantel would have the temerity to criticise another woman's appearance.

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Ms Mantel did not say that the Duchess is a mannequin, but that some parts of the media only show the Duchess as a mannequin, not a human being - and she is right! I heard Ms Mantel speak on the radio and she was very dignified and eloquent. Good for her.

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The dugong gets a gong!

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She looks like a warped version of Hilary Clinton!

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INACCURATE AGAIN. Hilary Mantel said NOTHING derogatory about the Duchess of Cambridge. It was a comment about the role she is required to play - not about Kate as a person. Once again, DM, don't let the facts get in the way of a good bit of controversy. Well deserved, Hilary - amazing literary achievements.

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I'm happy to support a system that acknowledges the wonderful VARIETY of people who do great things over and above their usual life and work but the current system rewards and perpetuates nothing but snobbery. I immediately lose respect for anyone who accepts a title. Sorry Dan, but that includes you too. As for La Mantel - no, I can't be bothered even to write what I think but it's not complimentary.

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Hard to believe that there still seem to be so many people who didn't bother actually to READ what Hilary Mantel said about the Duchess of Cambridge -- or maybe are too illiterate actually to comprehend it?? And WHAT an author looks like has to do with their writing escapes me. Would there have been silly ignorant comments on her appearance had she been a man?? By all means criticise her writing ( though NOT the historical accuracy, the person who did that obviously does not know what a NOVEL is) but her appearance is completely irrelevant.

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Thank god for well educated people! Long may you live!

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But Kate is portrayed as a shop window ,mannequin. All people ever talk about it what she is wearing. Truth hurts. Besides Hilary was not attacking Kate she was attacking the media and the way they portray women and Kate was an example. I'm sure the Queen is smart enough to know that regardless of how the media twist this woman's words.

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But Kate is portrayed as a shop window mannequin. All people ever talk about is what she's wearing. It's the truth, truth hurts. Same goes for other women in the spotlight. It's the media she was having a go at not Kate and I think the Queen is smart enough to know that regardless of how the media twists this woman's words so that people attack her.

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