Actress and singer Olivia Newton-John and director Sam Mendes are among the figures decorated by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019. Steve McQueen is also honored.
The traditional list of royal New Year honors was released to the public on Friday evening. Olivia Newton-John, 71, was made Lady Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her association with cancer and for her contribution to the arts.
Born in Cambridge in England before emigrating with her family to Australia, the singer had been propelled to the rank of planetary star thanks to her role in the film ‘Grease’ (1978), alongside John Travolta.
Last year, the Australian revealed that she had cancer for the third time, after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 and a shoulder tumor in 2013. Since her first diagnosis, the actress has engaged with associations fighting against this disease.
Olivia Newton-John told the PA news agency that she was ‘grateful’ to be recognized by the Queen who had already made her an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1979.
Elton John honored again
Among other distinguished celebrities, the British Sam Mendes, 54, is knighted. In 2000 he won the Oscar for best director for ‘American beauty’ and directed two films in the James Bond saga (‘Specter’ and ‘Skyfall’).
His compatriot, director Steve McQueen, 50, who won an Oscar for ’12 Years a Slave ‘(2013), was also knighted for his contributions to the arts and film.
Singer Elton John, 72, already knighted by the Queen, was elevated to the rank of Companion of Honor, a prestigious award highlighting his long and major contribution to the arts.
Steven Knight, the creator of the hit series ‘Peaky Blinders’, which narrates the adventures of gangsters in Birmingham at the beginning of the 20th century, was also distinguished.
In total, the Queen rewarded 1097 people on the occasion of the New Year, including many people unknown to the general public and involved at a local level. A second list of distinctions is announced each year on the occasion of its anniversary, on April 21.
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