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English actor Ray Winstone, best known for his performances in Gary Oldman's Nil by Mouth and Jonathan Glazer's Sexy Beast, will soon be honored at the Sarajevo Film Festival.
Winstone is all set to receive the honorary Heart of Sarajevo award at the Southeast European festival's forthcoming edition in August 2025. The actor, widely recognized for playing "tough guy" roles with his unique voice, will be the latest recipient of the award after Stellan Skarsgård, John Turturro, Meg Ryan, Robert De Niro, and more.
In a statement, addressing Ray Winstone's remarkable body of work, the festival director Jovan Marjanovic said,
“He is an actor who has captivated audiences for five decades with his great talent and undeniable presence. With honesty and intensity that resonate far beyond the screen, he has given us many unforgettable characters. It is a real pleasure to present an Honorary Heart of Sarajevo to Ray Winstone.”
The legacy of Ray Winstone's work
Now 68 years old, Ray Winstone admired the acting profession from a young age, having grown up watching the works of iconic actors, such as James Cagney, John Wayne, and more. However, he started as a boxer before pursuing acting professionally. His initial roles were in TV shows, before he got his big break in Scum (1979), directed by Alan Clarke.
As a 20-something-year-old, Winstone played Carlin in this intense prison drama about juvenile criminal offenders. Later, he went on to work with legendary filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Guy Ritchie, and more.
Many might remember Winstone as Mr. French, the criminal boss in Scorsese's The Departed, especially the iconic "cranberry juice" scene where Leonardo DiCaprio's character gets in a bare-knuckle fight with him. Others might recall him as George McHale, the greedy counterpoint to Harrison Ford's good-willed archaeologist.
Winstone's younger fans may recognize his voice as the beaver from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). It proves his acting range since his early days in the industry. However, his most striking work might be that of the foul-mouthed, alcoholic patriarch in Nil by Mouth (1997).
It's a psychologically draining drama, penned and helmed by Gary Oldman, partially inspired by his childhood as a kid from a working-class London-based family. Winstone's other notable work is in the 2000 crime thriller, Sexy Beast, an outrageously bold piece of work, where his intensity, paired with a dramatic vulnerability, does wonders against Ben Kingsley's Ray Logan.
With such a distinct filmography, Ray Winstone has certainly made an impression on film lovers across the globe. He appreciates the heartfelt gesture from the Sarajevo Film Festival with a brief statement. Here's what he said:
“The Sarajevo Film Festival continues to champion cinema that transcends spectacle, offering depth and meaning. I look forward to seeing you in Sarajevo.”
Winstone most recently appeared in Guy Ritchie's Netflix series, The Gentlemen. He is slated to reprise his role as the boss man, Bobby Glass, in the show's upcoming season.
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