Scottish actor Ewan McGregor and Oscar-winning US actor Tommy Lee Jones will be honoured with an award in tribute to their careers at the San Sebastian film festival in Spain next month.
McGregor, the 41-year-old “Star Wars” star, will receive the festival’s Donostia Award, “awarded to a great film personality in recognition for their work and career”, at a ceremony on September 27, they said in a statement.
“Often hailed as one of the finest actors of his generation, Ewan McGregor consistently captivates audiences with a diverse line-up of roles across a multitude of genres, styles and scope,” it said.
“McGregor’s career has been highlighted by a continuous string of bold and daring performances, from his breakthrough role as the heroin-addicted Mark Renton in Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting, to the legendary Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars saga, to starring opposite Nicole Kidman in the musical Moulin Rouge.”
The actor’s latest film “The Impossible”, a drama based on a true story of a family’s fight to survive during the 2004 tsunami, will have its European premiere at the festival after the ceremony to award McGregor the prize.
Festival organisers praised Jones as “one of the most acclaimed and accomplished actors in Hollywood”, who has had “a brilliant career spanning four decades”.
Jones won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1994 for his portrayal of determined US Marshall Sam Gerard in the box office hit “The Fugitive”.
His latest film “Hope Springs”, in which he co-stars opposite Meryl Streep, will be screened out of competition at the festival. Oliver Stone will also receive a Donastia Award at San Sebastian this year.
US actress Glenn Close won the Donostia Award last year. Previous recipients of the prize include Julia Roberts, Ian McKellen Richard Gere and Woody Allen.
The 60th edition of the San Sebastian film festival, the oldest and most prestigious event of its kind in the Spanish speaking world, will take place between September 21 and 29.
