Oscar-winning The Theory of Everything star Eddie Redmayne has found himself in the unusual position of being pipped to an award.

Redmayne, who took the best actor Oscar and Bafta award for playing science genius Stephen Hawking, saw his clean sweep of award wins ended by Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis at the 2015 Jameson Empire Awards.

Serkis was named best actor for his motion-capture performance in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the style of acting that brought him to popular attention when he played the creature Gollum in Peter Jackson’s trilogy and, more recently, in the first Hobbit film.

The British star, who also played King Kong in Jackson’s 2005 remake of the Hollywood classic, also beat stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Armitage and Bradley Cooper to be named best actor at the award ceremony at the Grosvenor Park hotel in London.

Serkis said: “I’m really thrilled and excited because finally, performance capture is respected across the board and considered on par as any other actor.

“You can’t compare performances. They’re all good and different but I’m glad I have touched audiences as much as a live actor can and been recognised for it.”

Christopher Nolan’s outer space adventure Interstellar was the big winner of the night, as it picked up three prizes including best film.

The British film-maker was also named best director, and took home the Inspiration award.

Ralph Fiennes said he would “bat away” his newly acquired Legend title, joking it was only for dead people.

The Oscar-nominated and Bafta-winning actor and director received the honour from Liam Neeson.

Other winners included actress Rosamund Pike, former Doctor Who star Karen Gillan and Kingsman: The Secret Service actor Taron Egerton, scooping the best male newcomer prize.

Kingsman: The Secret Service, directed by Matthew Vaughn and starring Colin Firth, Mark Strong and Sir Michael Caine, won best British film.

The Imitation Game, starring Cumberbatch as wartime codebreaker Alan Turing, was named best thriller, while Paddington was voted best comedy.

X-Men: Days of Future Past was named best sci-fi/fantasy film and The Babadook was voted best horror.

Fantasy sci-fi show Game of Thrones, based on George R. R. Martin’s books, took the Empire Hero award.

Stars including Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe attended the star-studded ceremony, which was hosted by James Nesbitt.