JOHN LITHGOW - MIRREN CLAIMS US THEATRE PRIZE

Actor JOHN LITHGOW poked fun at HELEN MIRREN's run of accolades in presenting her with a Geffen Backstage award in Los Angeles on Monday (30Apr07). The Oscar-winning British Dame was honoured for distinction in the theatre. In presenting the honour, Lithgow joked, "I'm doing this because I felt so bad you won so few awards this year." Mirren admitted she was surprised to be given a theatre award in America and recalled her most embarrassing moment on stage - when a sheet wrapped around her during a performance of William Shakespeare's Troilus + Cressida fell off, leaving her naked. She said, "Everyone talks about the scene, but I was the only one there."