Christopher Wheeldon, Imelda Staunton Among Queen's Annual New Year's Honorees

Each New Year's Day, UK's reigning monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II, announces the names of the newest members of orders of chivalry and recipients of other official honors. The honors have been awarded since 1890, during the reign of Queen Victoria.

Among this year's honorees is Idris Elba, who received an OBE for services to drama. The actor recently received a Golden Globe nomination for his work in LUTHER and BEASTS OF NO NATION. Elba said in a statement, "Awards and honors come in all shapes and sizes and all as significant as the other. But this is beyond special as it comes from Queen and country, and I couldn't be more proud for receiving this right now. What a year. On me head son!"

Also receiving an OBE for services to drama was SELMA star David Oyelowo, who began his career through a grant from Prince Charles' charity for the arts. The actor said of the honor, "To be honored by the Queen in this way having been aided by her son's charity feels like a beautiful full-circle moment."

Other entertainers who were recognized were Blur frontman Damon Albarn, and British actresses Barbara Windsor, and Sian Phillips. HOBBIT star James Nesbitt received an OBE for services to drama as well as for his community work in Northern Ireland.

Among theater talents who received honors was THE AUDIENCE playwright and screenwriter Peter Morgan, and AN AMERICAN IN PARIS director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, who this year picked up a Tony Award for Best Choreography for the musical.

BAFTA-winning actress Imelda Staunton, who was awarded an OBE in 2006, had her title promoted to CBE in honor of her services to drama. The actress, perhaps best known as Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter film franchise, recently starred as Momma Rose in the West End musical GYPSY.

Click here for the full list of New Years Honours

Source: Belfast Telegraph

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos