Funny man Sacha Baron Cohen, creator of comedic characters Borat, Bruno and Ali G, has been announced as this year’s recipient of the coveted 2013 BAFTA Los Angeles Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for his excellence in comedy.
Each year the Chaplin Award pays homage to talent that exemplifies the “uniquely transcendent quality of excellent comedy.” BAFTA Los Angeles chairman, Gary Dartnell explained that the choice for this year’s recipient was down Cohen’s “bravery and comic ingenuity.” The next dose of humour from Cohen will be his appearance in Will Farrell‘s Anchorman: The Legend Continues where he gets to bash it out with co-stars Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation, Free Birds) and Tina Fey (Date Night, Muppets Most Wanted).
Previous winners of the Chaplin award include the likes of Ben Stiller and South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Park.
Fellow Brit, Benedict Cumberbatch will also be honoured with the Britannia Award for British artist of the year previously won by the likes of Michael Sheen, Emily Blunt, Helena Bonham Carter and Daniel Craig. This comes as no major surprise given the buzz surrounding the actor following his stellar role as Kahn in Star Trek Into Darkness and upcoming roles in 12 Years a Slave and The Fifth Estate to name but a few.
BAFTA Los Angeles have also announced that George Clooney will be this year’s recipient of the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for excellence in film whist Kathryn Bigelow will receive the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for excellence in directing and Ben Kingsley will receive the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for worldwide contribution to entertainment. The ceremony will take place on the 9th of November this year at the Beverly Hilton Hotel with the host yet to be announced.
