EXCLUSIVE: Kristin Scott Thomas and Kurt Russell will both be feted with a Crystal Nymph Award at this year’s Monte-Carlo Television Festival. The stars will be in Monte-Carlo in June to accept the honor, which is bestowed for longstanding career achievements and creating a lasting impact on the creative industry.
2026 will be the 65th anniversary of the Monte-Carlo TV Festival, which historically attracts U.S., European and international stars each summer. Scott Thomas and Russell continue in that tradition and will bookend the upcoming edition.
Scott Thomas will be honored during the Festival’s opening ceremony on June 12 and Russell will receive his award during the closing ceremony on June 16.
Scott Thomas’ career spans stage and screen. Her film credits include Gosford Park, The English Patient and Four Weddings and a Funeral. On TV, she has most recently been seen in Slow Horses and other notable appearances include roles in Military Wives and Fleabag. An Oscar nominee and BAFTA winner, she stepped behind the camera for directorial debut with the movie My Mother’s Wedding, starring Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller and Emily Beecham.
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“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition in Monaco, a place that has long celebrated artistic excellence with such grace,” the star said.
Russell’s lengthy career also straddles film and TV. Having started out on the small screen through productions with The Walt Disney Company, he went on to become a major Hollywood presence. The star recently returned to TV with Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and next up will appear in the highly anticipated series The Madison.
“It is a great honor to be selected for this distinguished award, and I very much look forward to spending time with His Serene Highness Prince Albert. It has been a long time,” Russell said.
“We are thrilled to honor Kurt Russell and Dame Kristin Scott Thomas,” added Cécile Menoni, Executive Director of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival.
“Their exceptional careers, spanning both film and television, perfectly reflect the artistic excellence and international perspective. These awards celebrate two remarkable talents who have made a lasting impact on the global audiovisual landscape.”
The Festival is centered around Monte-Carlo’s Grimaldi Forum, where a business-focused strand also takes place having been bolstered in recent years. As well as the Crystal Nymphs, there is a competition for drama series and factual productions, which vie for the coveted Golden Nymphs.