The U.K.’s annual New Year Honors list, released by King Charles III, shines a spotlight on an array of talent across the arts, public service, and charity work. Among the honorees, Stephen Fry has been knighted, while acclaimed actors Carey Mulligan and Sarah Lancashire have been named Commanders of the British Empire (CBE).
Fry, known for his multifaceted career as an actor, broadcaster, and comedian, received a knighthood for his significant contributions to mental health and environmental charities. Sharing his reaction with the BBC, Fry said he felt “startled and enchanted” by the honor. Reflecting on his tumultuous childhood, he said, “I think the most emotional thing is when I think of my childhood, and my dreadful unhappiness and misery and stupidity, and everything that led to so many failures as a child. And for my parents, really, what a disaster. I mean every time the phone rang, they thought, ‘Oh God, what has Stephen done now.’ It was a sort of joke in the family.”
Fry was knighted alongside notable figures such as former England football manager Gareth Southgate, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street. Labour MP Emily Thornberry and theater star Carmen Munroe, celebrated for her role in Desmond’s, were both made dames.
In the realm of drama, Mulligan, known for her roles in Promising Young Woman and Maestro, and Lancashire, the star of Happy Valley, were honored with CBEs for their contributions to the arts. Lancashire described the recognition as “an unexpected delight,” according to the BBC.
Other entertainment figures also received accolades. Anne Reid, celebrated for The Sixth Commandment, was named a CBE, while Anne-Marie Duff of Shameless and Bad Sisters earned an OBE. Eddie Marsan (Back to Black), Kevin Whately (Inspector Morse), and former Doctor Who star Tom Baker were also recognized, with Baker being awarded an MBE.
The New Year Honors list, a tradition of British chivalry, celebrates achievements spanning public service, the arts, and beyond, offering a heartfelt reminder of the diverse contributions shaping the nation’s cultural and social fabric.
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