From Narnia's White Witch to president of Berlin festival jury

Published on Wednesday 12 November 2008 22:39

TILDA Swinton was yesterday named president of the international jury at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival in February next year.

This is the latest recognition of the Scottish actress's position as one of the most prominent and versatile talents of her generation.

She has received numerous international film awards for her work – most recently the 2008 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Michael Clayton.

This summer she founded and co-produced a small-scale film festival in her hometown of Nairn.

"I'm pleased that the wonderful Tilda Swinton will be our jury president in 2009," said Dieter Kosslick, the director of the Berlinale.

"Her commanding screen presence has made an indelible impression in contemporary, innovative filmmaking."

Swinton's film career has close ties with the Berlinale. Since her screen debut in Derek Jarman's Caravaggio, she has graced the screen in 14 Berlinale films, including Julia (2008) by Eric Zonca, Thumbsucker (2005) by Mike Mills and Adaptation (2003) by Spike Jonze.

Caravaggio received a Silver Bear award at Berlin in 1986, and Swinton went on to appear in all of Jarman's films until his death in 1994, including The Last of England, Edward II and Wittgenstein.

In 1992 she gained international recognition in Orlando, and has since become one of the most sought-after actors, playing a wide range of roles and switching effortlessly between large Hollywood productions, such as The Chronicles of Narnia, and European art-house films.