Emma Watson, 17, beat Dame Judi Dench to win the inaugural award for Best Female Performance at the National Movie Awards in London on Friday night.

Emma plays Hermione in the Harry Potter movies and seemed a little awe-struck on the red carpet before the awards were handed out.

She told whatsontv.co.uk that she had no speech prepared beyond ‘thank you’, but the chorus of fans calling her name should have alerted her to the prospect of victory.

The National Movie Awards are solely determined by the votes of British film fans, unlike the industry choices at the Oscars and the Baftas.

Beside her shock at winning, Emma was also delighted to receive it from none other than legendary Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman.

Emma’s co-nominees, besides Dame Judi, included Eva Green (Casino Royale) and Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End).

VIDEO: Watch the interview with Emma Watson on the red carpet.

The full list of national Movie Award nominees, with the winners in bold:

ACTION/ADVENTURE

Casino Royale


Die Hard 4.0


300


Transformers

ANIMATION


Flushed Away


Happy Feet


Shrek the Third

The Simpsons Movie

COMEDY


Borat

Hot Fuzz


Mr Bean’s Holiday


Night at the Museum

FAMILY


Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix


Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End


Spider-Man 3

PERFORMANCE – MALE


Daniel Craig


Johnny Depp


Rupert Grint

Daniel Radcliffe

PERFORMANCE – FEMALE


Dame Judi Dench


Eva Green


Keira Knightley

Emma Watson

Watch the National Movie Awards on ITV1 on Saturday at 9.30pm.