Joan Collins Made A Dame By Queen Elizabeth
Joan Collins was among the notables who made Queen Elizabeth's New Year Honours list this year: Television's greatest bitch officially became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Dame Joan, who was made an OBE in 1997 for her contributions to the arts, said she was "thrilled and truly grateful."
Other actors who were made Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) included Dame Kristin Scott Thomas (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The English Patient) and Sir John Hurt (Snowpiercer, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows).
Emily Watson was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE), as were Into the Woods actor James Corden and his Gavin & Stacey co-star Sheridan Smith. “I feel very lucky to be born in a country where creativity is both encouraged and valued,” said Cordon.
A total of 1,164 people were honored by the Queen on the New Year list, which was split equally between men and women.
Fashion designer Mary Quant; broadcaster and philanthropist Esther Rantzen and lesbian Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy all received Damehoods, while Dame Mary Peters, who won a gold medal in the women's pentathlon at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, was made a Companion of Honour.
Hockey captain Kathrin Richardson-Walsh, Northern Ireland boxer Patrick Barnes and Sottish judo player Euan Burton, were all made MBEs.