Beverley Knight MBE has been chosen as the winner of the Outstanding Commitment to Diversity Award at the European Diversity Awards. The multitalented actor, singer, songwriter and producer received the award at a ceremony held in London on Friday (8 November).
Knight receives the award in recognition of her ‘advocacy for equality and social justice’ and, while accepting her award, she burst into song, performing The Greatest Love of All, written by Michael Masser and made famous by Whitney Houston in 1985. The European Diversity Awards, hosted this year by Sky News presenters Kamali Melbourne and Gillian Joseph, is designed to ‘celebrate leading diversity and inclusion champions while recognising achievements across all strands of Diversity’.
European Diversity Awards founder Linda Riley said: ‘These awards are all about recognising the people who’ve gone above and beyond to champion diversity and inclusion, inspiring others to get involved too. The organisations and leaders we’re celebrating tonight show just how much effort is going into making workplaces more inclusive and truly living out those values. Together, we’re making a real difference.’
Knight’s recent roles include Delores Van Cartier in Sister Act at the Dominion Theatre, Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard, Grizabella in Cats, and Emmeline Pankhurst in Sylvia at the Old Vic in London, for which she won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Knight adds this latest award to previous accolades including three MOBO Awards, an Outstanding Achievement Award at the Urban Music Awards, and nominations for the Mercury Music Prize and Best Female at the Brit Awards.