007's Roger Moore among those on Queen's birthday honors list

Friday, June 13th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LONDON (AP) _ Celluloid spy hero Roger Moore became real-life Sir Roger on Queen Elizabeth II's birthday honors list, saluted for his charity work along with scores of artists, scientists and less-celebrated Britons.

Helen Mirren, one of Britain's most-admired actresses and star of the ``Prime Suspect'' television police dramas, became a dame, the female equivalent of a knight, as did renowned chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall.

In the honors list officially published on Saturday, Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop cosmetics chain, also became a dame, and television's ``Naked Chef,'' Jamie Oliver, was made an MBE _ Member of the Order of British Empire.

Orchestral conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, who has been musical director of both the English National Opera and of Welsh National Opera, was made a Companion of Honor, a prestigious title awarded for ``conspicuous service'' to the nation.

Pop star Sting was made a CBE, or Commander of the British Empire. Also honored with a CBE was 100-year-old Lilian Doris Thompson _ for her leadership of Blackpool's Pleasure Beach, where she continued testing the amusement park's new rides throughout her 90s.

Fashion designer Alexander McQueen also became a CBE.

Moore, who succeeded Sir Sean Connery as James Bond, played the hero in seven films. But his knighthood was bestowed for his work for UNICEF and the Kiwanis International children's charity.

``I am so proud to be the recipient of this great honor,'' the 75-year-old Moore said. ``I am doubly proud because this is an acknowledgment of UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, an organization I am honored to work for as an international goodwill ambassador.''

Mirren, long-admired in Britain, gained a wider international audience as the queen in ``The Madness of King George,'' for which she won a 1994 Oscar nomination, and as Detective Jane Tennison in television's ``Prime Suspect.'' Mirren won her second Oscar nomination in 2001 for ``Gosford Park.''

The 57-year-old star said she was ``absolutely thrilled'' with the honor.

Actress Kristin Scott Thomas, Oscar-nominated for her role in ``The English Patient,'' became an Officer of the British Empire, or OBE. A CBE went to actor Simon Russell Beale, who is regarded as one of the country's finest Shakespearean actors. And stage actor Richard Briers, also a favorite from television sitcoms, was made a CBE.

Former Pink Floyd lead guitarist Dave Gilmour, who recently donated $5.9 million from the sale of his London home to a project to house the homeless, also became a CBE.

Actor Jim Dale, who read the Harry Potter books for audio tapes, was made an MBE. So was Gerry Marsden, of the 1960s pop group Gerry and the Pacemakers, for services to charity. Gary Brooker, who formed the Procol Harum group in 1967, and Errol Brown, lead singer with the 1970s band Hot Chocolate, also became MBEs.

In the world of science, biochemistry Professor Edwin Southern of Oxford University received a knighthood for services to the development of DNA technology.

The honors are officially bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II but largely selected by the government. Many people are nominated by the public.

In descending order, the honors are knighthoods, Commander of the British Empire, Member of the Order of British Empire and Officer of the British Empire. Those who are awarded CBEs, MBEs and OBEs have no title but can put the letters after their names.