KATE WINSLET - WINSLET FINALLY WINS ETERNAL SUNSHINE GONG

Actress KATE WINSLET is thrilled she was voted the Best British Actress at Britain's EMPIRE MAGAZINE FILM AWARDS last night (13MAR05) - because they are Britain's only movie gongs chosen by the public.

Winslet had been shortlisted for OSCAR, BAFTA and GOLDEN GLOBE awards for her part in ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, but was unsuccessful, until last night, when she claimed the honour at the bash in London's Guildhall.

More than 12,500 readers of the magazine voted for the awards, which saw THE BOURNE SUPREMACY win Best Film and its star MATT DAMON win Best Actor.

Other winners included SAM RAIMI and MATTHEW VAUGHN for Best Director and Best British Director respectively, and JULIE DELPY claimed the Best Actress prize for her part in BEFORE SUNRISE sequel, BEFORE SUNSET.

The Empire Awards winners are:

Best Newcomer - FREDDIE HIGHMORE for FINDING NEVERLAND

Best British Actress - KATE WINSLET for ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

Best British Actor - PADDY CONSIDINE for DEAD MAN'S SHOES

Best British Director - MATTHEW VAUGHN for LAYER CAKE

Best British Film - SHAUN OF THE DEAD

Best Actress - JULIE DELPY for BEFORE SUNSET

Best Actor - MATT DAMON for THE BOURNE SUPREMACY

Best Director - SAM RAIMI for SPIDER-MAN 2

Best Film - THE BOURNE SUPREMACY

Independent Spirit Award - KEVIN SMITH

Inspiration Award - BRAD BIRD for THE INCREDIBLES

Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema - WORKING TITLE

Icon of the Decade - QUENTIN TARANTINO