Women Film Critics Circle praises 'Zero Dark Thirty,' 'Royal Affair'

NEW YORK, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- America's Women Film Critics Circle awarded several prizes to "Zero Dark Thirty," a drama about the female CIA agent who led the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Jessica Chastain as the determined agent, the film Monday was named 2012's Best Movie By a Woman. It also won awards for Best Female Images and Best Equality of the Sexes.

The critics declared "A Royal Affair" the year's Best Movie About Women, while the Best Woman Storyteller prize went to Julie Delpy for her "Two Days in New York" screenplay.

Anne Hathaway scored the Best Actress mantle for her work in "Les Miserables" and Daniel Day-Lewis the Best Actor honor for his performance in "Lincoln," which additionally earned the accolade for Best Male Images in a Movie.

Recognized as Best Young Actress was Quvenzhane Wallis of "Beasts of the Southern Wild."

Maggie Smith earned the Best Comedic Actress accolade for "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." She also shared the Women's Work: Best Ensemble honor with her co-stars Judi Dench, Penelope Wilton and Celia Imrie.

Director Nadine Labaki's "Where Do We Go Now" was touted as the Best Foreign Film By or About Women and the HBO movie "Hemingway and Gellhorn" was named Best Theatrically Unreleased Movie By or About Women.

"Killer Joe"and "Think Like a Man" tied for the distinction of Worst Female Images of Women in a Movie.

"Killer Joe" took the title for Worst Male Images, too, and "Brave" the award for Best Animated Females.

Sharing the Best Family Film prize are "Life of Pi" and "Rise of the Guardians."

The critics group also honored Barbra Streisand with its Lifetime Achievement Award, and Sally Field with its Acting and Activism Award.

The Adrienne Shelly Award for a film that most passionately opposes violence against women was shared by "Compliance" and "The Invisible War."

The Josephine Baker Award for best expressing the woman of color experience in America went to director Ava DuVernay's "Middle of Nowhere" and the Karen Morley Award for best exemplifying a woman's place in history or society, and a courageous search for identity went to "A Royal Affair."