HELEN MIRREN - MIRREN AND AFFLECK WIN AT VENICE

DAME HELEN MIRREN and BEN AFFLECK have taken the acting honours at this year's (06) Venice Film Festival in Italy. Mirren was named Best Actress for her performance as British monarch QUEEN ELIZABETH II in THE QUEEN, while Affleck was a surprise win as Best Actor for his part as 1950s TV SUPERMAN actor GEORGE REEVES in HOLLYWOODLAND. On collecting her award, Mirren said, "It's an incredible honour to have a film take its first steps here in Venice. (Director) STEPHEN FREARS is the mother of the film. I'm just a bit of the DNA of this film." Chinese movie STILL LIFE (SANXIA HAOREN) won the festival's top award, the Golden Lion, beating out competition from favourites The Queen, BOBBY and GOLDEN DOOR. Actress CATHERINE DENEUVE, who headed the jury, praised Still Life as "a very special film. We were very touched and we were very moved." French film-maker ALAIN RESNAIS, 84, won Best Director for PRIVATE FEARS IN PUBLIC PLACES, while Best Screenplay went to PETER MORGAN for The Queen. Chad movie DARATT won the Special Jury Prize.