DAME JUDI DENCH has been given a boost as she mourns the death of her husband - a Best Supporting Actress prize at the ShoWest convention in America's Las Vegas.

The actress received the honour for her acclaimed role as a dying diabetic in CHOCOLAT. The British star, whose actor husband MICHAEL WILLIAMS died on Thursday (11JAN01) after losing his battle with lung cancer, is also nominated for a Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globe Awards later this month (JAN01) and is hotly tipped to land another Best Supporting Actress Oscar in March (01).

In 1999 she picked up her first Oscar for playing QUEEN ELIZABETH in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE. (KL/HR/KW)

Source: WENN