Harry Potter Favorites Win Royal Television Society Awards
Mar 22, 2017
Coltrane, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Honors/Awards, Jack Thorne, News, Television Programmes, Walters
Two of Potter fan’s most beloved actors were honored last night at The Royal Television Society Programme Awards held in London at the Grosvenor House Hotel. As reported by Leaky, the March 7 announcement of the RTS nominations revealed that Robbie Coltrane, Harry Potter’s adored gamekeeper Hagrid was up for best actor in the newly acclaimed Hulu mini-series National Treasure. His co-star Julie Walters, known to the fandom as Molly Weasley, was also nominated for best actress for her work in the series. The winners were announced last night at the annual RTS ceremony and veteran performer Coltrane came away with the first best actor award of his career and Jack Thorne’s National Treasure received best mini-series.
Walters, who plays Coltrane’s wife Marie in the courtroom drama, lost out on the best actress prize to Sophie Okonedo from another legal drama, Undercover, but to her surprise took home the Society’s lifetime achievement award which recognized her 40-year career in film and television.
After discovering she was this year’s recipient, Walter’s teased that the distinction was the:
“old people’s award”
But she also gushed:
“It’s absolutely gorgeous, I’m thrilled. I always get excited at things like this, being surrounded by people I know, I’m like a Jack Russell dog.”
Photograph by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images
Jack Thorne, acclaimed playwright of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, who received an RTS nomination for best writer for National Treasure, sent a congratulatory Tweet to Walters in response to her facetious acceptance of the accolade:
"I simply can't thank all the amazing people I have elbowed out of the way to get where I am" says Julie Walters #RTSAwards
— RTS (@RTS_media) March 21, 2017
She had no idea she'd won this last night & went onstage & gave the greatest of speeches. A lifetime achievement award so hugely deserved. https://t.co/Yep93ouam4
— Jack Thorne (@jackthorne) March 22, 2017
Originally founded in 1927, the Royal Television Society is an educational charity promoting the art and science of television. This year’s Programme was hosted by British TV personality Sandi Toksvig and comedian Noel Fielding.
The full list of 2017 Royal Television Society Award winners can be found here.
Bravo to Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters on their honors. Both of these Potter alum are indeed national treasures!