Rising star Ben Whishaw has been crowned best actor at the International Emmy awards, which were dominated by Britons.

The 29-year-old — now appearing in the film Bright Star about poet John Keats — was selected for his role in the BBC's acclaimed five-part drama Criminal Justice, about a man accused of murder.

Julie Walters, 59, won the best actress prize for assisted suicide drama A Short Stay In Switzerland, also on the BBC. British programmes won three other trophies at the US ceremony which honours TV programmes made outside America.
Sir David Frost was presented with an honorary Founders Award for lifetime achievement.

Triumph: Ben Whishaw wins the best actor award

The 70-year-old political broadcaster was celebrated for his 40-year career as a television host, dating back to the early Sixties when he hosted the groundbreaking satirical programme That Was The Week That Was.

Later, his most notable interviews were with Richard Nixon over the Watergate scandal which were broadcast in 1977. They subsequently became the subject of a hit West End and Broadway play which was turned into the movie Frost/Nixon, nominated for an Oscar last year.

Sir David, who now produces and hosts the weekly programme Frost Over the World on Al Jazeera English, received his award from US broadcaster Barbara Walters.

Last night's ceremony at New York's Hilton Hotel was hosted by BBC chat show host Graham Norton. Other British winners included CBBC programme Dustbin Baby, about an adopted teenager.

Two programmes on Channel 4 also triumphed. They were the Mona Lisa Curse featuring critic Robert Hughes on contemporary art, and The Ascent of Money where Niall Ferguson traced the financial background behind great powers, wars and revolutions.

Best drama was Denmark's The Protectors and best comedy was Japan's Hoshi Shinichi's Short Shorts.