Sir Anthony Hopkins found himself with a share of a Classic Brit Award after one of his compositions featured on the album of the year.
The Oscar-winning Silence Of The Lambs star attended the ceremony with his friend, violinist Andre Rieu, who recorded one of the actor's works as the title track of his album And The Waltz Goes On.
Classic FM presenter Myleene Klass hosted the awards
Another Academy Award-winner, composer John Williams, was also among the victors, collecting the best composer title to go with a lifetime achievement honour.
Gareth Malone and his choir of Military Wives were awarded the inaugural single of the year prize for their Christmas chart-topper Wherever You Are.
The group helped to round off the evening by performing another hit, the jubilee anthem Sing. They were accompanied at the Royal Albert Hall by the song's composers, Take That star Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber who both played grand pianos.
Rieu - known as the king of the waltz - collected the top album prize for the second year running, after triumphing in a public vote. Sir Anthony specially wrote the track for his winning recording, one of many pieces he has composed over the years.
The Welsh screen stars said of the track's inclusion on the album: "It's a dream come true for me. I'd always admired Andre. He's a superb musician, a terrific showman and a wonderful violinist."
Guests at the event - officially called the Classic Brit Awards 2012 with MasterCard - were to include the Duchess of Cornwall but she had to pull out due to a middle ear infection and sinusitis.
Sir Anthony Hopkins said his collaboration with Andre Rieu was a 'dream come true'
The 20-year-old pianist Benjamin Grosvenor became the youngest ever male winner at the event, taking the critics' choice prize.
Russian conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko, took the best male artist prize for his work on five albums.
Violinist Nicola Benedetti was handed the award for top female artist for her album Italia.
US composer Williams achieved his lifetime achievement honour for orchestral scores for dozens of well-known movies, including Jaws, Superman, the Harry Potter series and Star Wars. His best composer prize recognised his work on War Horse and The Adventures Of Tintin during the past year.
Montenegrin classical guitarist Milos Karadaglic - who trained at London's Royal Academy of Music - took the award for breakthrough artist of the year, while Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli collected the prize for international artist.
The event - to be broadcast on ITV1 on Sunday at 10.15pm - was hosted by Myleene Klass.
Winners (with winning albums in brackets):
- Female artist - Nicola Benedetti, Italia
- Breakthrough artist of the year - Milos Karadaglic, Latino
- Composer - John Williams, (War Horse, The Adventures Of Tintin)
- International artist of the year - Andrea Bocelli
- Critics' award - Benjamin Grosvenor (Chopin/Liszt/Ravel)
- Male artist - Vasily Petrenko (Shostakovich/Symphony No 1 & 3, plus four other albums)
- Classic Brits single of the year - Military Wives/Gareth Malone, Wherever You Are
- Lifetime achievement award - John Williams
- Album of the year - Andre Rieu (And The Waltz Goes On)