James McAvoy wins best actor at British Independent Film Awards

The Scottish actor won for his portrayal of Bruce Robertson in 'Filth'

James McAvoy arrives at the 16th annual Moet British Independent Film Awards (PA)

James McAvoy was named Best Actor at last night’s British Independent Film Awards for his role in Irvine Welsh’s Filth.

Picking up his award, the actor, who plays the abusive, drug-taking Bruce Robertson in the film, said: “It’s like Scotland’s won the World Cup”.

He said he was sad he would never get to play the character again, and admitted that Robertson, along with Macbeth, was one of the two roles he would miss playing the most.

Lindsay Duncan won the award for Best Actress for her role in Le Week-end, in which she stars alongside Jim Broadbent.

The 63-year-old actress said: “We had the most wonderful time making this film and I think we made the film we wanted to make.”

In the film, Duncan and Broadbent play a wife and husband who return to Paris to try and revitalise their marriage.

Crime drama Metro Manila was the real winner at last night’s awards, picking up three gongs for best independent film, best director and best achievement in production.

The film, which was self-funded by director Sean Ellis, follows an immigrant Filipino family in Manila as they get trapped in the city’s murky criminal underworld.

Lindsay Duncan arrives at the BIFAs. The actress won for her performance in Le Week-end (PA)

The director told the BBC he re-mortgaged his home to help fund the production of the film, which stars Oscar Ramirez.

Julie Walters was honoured with the Richard Harris Award for outstanding contribution by an actor to British film.

Accepting her award, the actress told the crowd how she “exploded onto the national consciousness” in Educating Rita in 1983.

She said: “Still to this day I meet women who come up in the street and say ‘I left my husband because of you in that’ or ‘I got an education because of that film’.”

Director Paul Greengrass, whose most recent credits include Captain Phillips and Green Zone, picked up the Variety Award for his contribution to help shine the international spotlight on the UK.

Blue is the Warmest Colour won Best International Film, while Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer won Best British Documentary.