Anne-Marie Duff 'blown away' by Evening Standard Film Award

Duff, 39, was named best actress for playing John Lennon's volatile mother in Sam Taylor-Wood's Nowhere Boy. Accepting the prize, she sent her love to husband James McAvoy.

Grateful: Anne-Marie Duff thanked husband James McAvoy for allowing her to take her acting "too seriously"

"I'd really like to be Mrs McAvoy for a minute and say thank you for seriously having to live with a flame-haired broken hearted banjo player," she said, referring to her role as Julia Lennon.

"Thank you for your support and always allowing me to take my work far too seriously, which I do."

Gallery: The Evening Standard Film Awards 2010

Serkis, 45, won best actor for his uncanny depiction of Ian Dury in Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll. Before accepting his award Serkis threw himself down the stairs, as actresses, including Duff, had tripped when taking to the stage.

"F***, I really hurt myself, all in the name of art," he said, and dedicated his award to Dury: "Ian wherever you are, this is for you.

Andy Serkis scooped the Best Actor title for his role as Ian Dury in Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll

At the awards, run in association with the London Film Museum, winners were cheered by stars including Eva Green, David Morrissey, Jenny Agutter, Jaime Winstone and Steve Coogan — as well as Gordon Brown's wife Sarah.

British cinema's rock'n'roll year celebrated in Evening Standard Film Awards

Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold's tale of a teenager on an Essex council estate, was named best film. Arnold, who lives in Greenwich, said: "I'm a Londoner so for ages I would read the reviews in the Standard and never think of reading my name."

Political satire In the Loop scooped best screenplay for a team led by Armando Iannucci.

And Terry Gilliam presented Sacha Baron Cohen with the comedy award for Brüno, saying: "If comedy is going to be useful, I think it should offend."

Real deal: Sacha Baron Cohen appeared as himself to accept the award

Cohen said that while in his role as the Austrian fashion reporter, he had been chased through Jerusalem by angry Hasids, spent time in a cell in Milan, faced angry rednecks in Arkansas and simulated sex with a short Filipino man. "So I think I deserve this."

Coldplay's Chris Martin presented Sacha Gervasi with best documentary prize for Anvil!, which recorded the trials of a Canadian heavy metal band.

Frontman: Chris Martin presented the award for Best Documentary

And Nicolas Roeg, 81, took the Alexander Walker special award. Fellow directors including Stephen Daldry and Paul Greengrass applauded as Roeg asked for it to be a "half-life-time achievement" so he could make more films.

Mind the gap: Jaime Winstone and Alfie Allen on the London Film Museum's very own tube

THE WINNERS
:: Best film
Fish Tank
:: Best actor
Andy Serkis - Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
:: Best actress
Anne-Marie Duff - Nowhere Boy
:: London Film Museum award for technical achievement
Barry Ackroyd cinematographer - The Hurt Locker
:: Best screenplay
Jesse Armstrong/Simon Blackwell/Armando Iannucci/Tony Roche - In the Loop
:: Most promising newcomer
Peter Strickland for his direction and screenplay of Katalin Varga
:: Peter Sellers award for comedy
Sacha Baron Cohen - Bruno
:: Best documentary
Anvil! The Story of Anvil - Sacha Gervasi
:: Alexander Walker special award
Nicolas Roeg for his contribution to film