Colin Firth picks up another award

Colin Firth has won Actor Of The Year at The London's Film Critic's Circle Awards for his role as King George VI in The King's Speech.

Firth acknowledged that he has had a mixed reception from the critics over the years.

"I've had some fantastic ups and downs" he said, "which have not all necessarily been consistent with how they've been received. So I've had a lot of highs and lows and this is certainly one of them."

Lesley Manville collected Actress Of The Year for her portrayal of an unhappy spinster in Mike Leigh's Another Year.

Manville said the award made her proud to be British: "It sort of brings out the best in me. I sort of feel, I don't care about the rest of the world as long as Britain likes me, because this is where my heart is."

Actress Kristin Scott Thomas received the highest honour of the night, The Dilys Powell Award For Excellence In Cinema.

The Social Network received four awards - Film Of The Year, Director Of The Year for David Fincher, Best British Actor in a Supporting Role for Andrew Garfield, and Screenwriter Of The Year for Aaron Sorkin.