By Baz Bamigboye In Cannes
Published: 13:03 EST, 24 May 2014 | Updated: 15:55 EST, 24 May 2014
Timothy Spall was hurled into the front ranks of movie stardom when he was named best actor at the Cannes Film Festival for his formidable portrait of sex mad British landscape painter JMW Turner.
Spall and his wife Shane hurried back to Cannes from a boating trip in Holland.
They were soon mingling with the likes of special Cannes Film Festival guests Sophia Loren, Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino.
Success: British actor Timothy Spall (R) receives the Best Performance by an Actor award for his role in the movie Mr Turner from Italian actress Monica Bellucci (R) during the Closing Award Ceremony of the 67th Cannes Film Festival
Shocked: The actor explained he was 'always the bridesmaid, but now he's the bride' after taking home the coveted prize
Notes: The actor read from his iPhone a few words to those gathered at the closing ceremony on Saturday night
Mike Leigh's film, Mr Turner, not only showed what a great painter Turner was, but also explored his legendary sexual escapades and how his passion for women helped fuel his brilliance with a paint brush.
Spall is one of Britain's best known and beloved actors thanks to parts in the Harry Potter films and his frequent collaborations with director Leigh in films such as Oscar-winning The King's Speech and Secrets and Lies, which took the coveted Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1996.
It's a long and winding road from playing an electrician on Auf Wiedersehen Pet on TV thirty years ago to golden laurel recipient at the Cannes Film Festival for portraying one of Britain's most lauded painters. 
New challenge: Mr Turner not only showed what a great painter Turner was, but also explored his legendary sexual escapades and how his passion for women helped fuel his brilliance with a paint brush
Rocking the red carpet: Director Mike Leigh, actress Marion Bailey, actor Timothy Spall, actress Dorothy Atkinson and director of photography Dick Pope at the Mr Turner Cannes Film Festival screening on May 15
Or as Spall put it Saturday night: 'From spark to sparkling artist.'
The best actor win puts him on the fast track for an Oscar nomination at the next Academy Awards in February 2015.
Spall told the Daily Mail: 'Four hours ago I had my fingers, and I'd better say this carefully, up a pipe full of oil on my boat. I was so distressed about the pipe that I almost didn't pick up the phone.'
Celebration: Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan received the Palme D'or from Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino and joined them with Timothy for a photo
Barefoot: Uma's feet must have been killing from her heels as she took to the stage with Quentin on Saturday night
Emotional: Director Xavier Dolan welled up after receiving the Jury Prize award for his film Mommy
He joked that he has been nominated for BAFTAs and has never won: 'I'm always the bridesmaid.'
Spall broke down as he took the best actor honour from Monica Bellucci.
'I'm a bit overcome', he said as he fumbled with his mobile phone where he had earlier typed in notes for his acceptance speech.
He said: 'It's a funny old thing to be in your late years. I've been a bridesmaid but this is the first time that I've ever been a bride.'
Congratulations: US director Bennett Miller (L) is presented the Best Director Prize by US actor Adrien Brody during the closing ceremony of the 67th edition of the Cannes Film Festival
Tender moment: Adrien Brody and his girlfriend Lara Lieto share a kiss on the red carpet
Happy days: The actor and his girlfriend look smitten as they appear at the final day of Cannes
The 57-year-old actor was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 1996; the same year Secrets and Lies won at Cannes.
Spall said he couldn't attend that year because he was in hospital. He praised his 33-year collaboration with Mike Leigh and his 33-year marriage to wife Shane.
Julianne Moore won the best actress for her role playing a pill popping fading Hollywood star in Map to the Stars, in which she has a wild sex scene in a limo with Robert Pattinson.
Spall spent two years studying brush-strokes to prepare for his role as Turner.
Screen sensation: Julianne Moore won the best actress for her role playing a pill popping fading Hollywood star in Map to the Stars, in which she has a wild sex scene in a limo with Robert Pattinson
Chic: Sofia Coppola attended the film festival's final day
Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino ,in town to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Pulp Fiction , gave Turkish film Winters Sleep the evening's top accolade the Palme d'Or .
The three hour 16 minute film is about a wealthy Turkish landowner contemplating love and life.
Sophia Loren presented the Grand prix award to Italian movie The Wonders which features Monica Bellucci.
Other winners included the film Mommy directed by Xavier Dolan which shared the jury prize with Jean Luc Godard's movie Goodbye to Language.
Best director prize went to Bennett Miller for the acclaimed American film Foxcatcher.
The movie stars Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Vanessa Redgrave and Sienna Miller.
Reunited: Kill Bill stars Uma Thurman and Michael Madsen join their director at the cermeony
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