The Prime Minister managed to make it, as did The Last King of Scotland - but The Queen was unavoidably detained.

Helen Mirren was one of the stars honoured at the New York Film Critics' Circle awards ceremony last night when she was named best actress for her performance in the Stephen Frears movie, The Queen.

She was unable to attend, but Michael Sheen, who played the Prime Minister in th film, was at the ceremony.

Forest Whitaker, named best actor for his performance as Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland - scripted by Peter Morgan, as was The Queen - was one of the first stars to turn up for the show at New York's Supper Club.

Martin Scorsese was honoured as best director for The Departed. The awards, are seen as a forerunner for the Oscars and three of the stars from the film - Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg - were there to see him receive his award. As Mark Wahlberg said: "If a guy like Marty calls, you show up. I hope it's his year (for the Oscar). I'm going to vote for him; he's my guy!"

Robin Williams was present to accept the award for Happy Feet as best animated film, bringing the house down when he deadpanned: "I accept this on behalf of all gay penguins."

The best film award went to United 93, the story of the hijacked 9/11 plane which crashed in Pennsylvania after the passengers tried to storm the cabin.

Director Paul Greengrass said that winning the New York critics' award had an especial significance for him: "If anyone would hold this movie to account, it's the city of New York."

The main winners
Best film: United 93
Best director: Martin Scorsese, The Departed
Best screenplay: Peter Morgan, The Queen
Best actress: Helen Mirren, The Queen
Best actor: Forest Whitaker, The Last King Of Scotland
Supporting actress: Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Supporting actor: Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children
Cinematography: Guillermo Navarro, Pan's Labyrinth
Animated film: Happy Feet
Best foreign film: Army Of Shadows