The BAFTA’s highest award is to be received by Oscar-winning actress, Helen Mirren. The award is to be given to Mirren next month at the award ceremony.
BAFTA chairman John Willis praised the actress saying: “Dame Helen Mirren receives the fellowship as one of the most outstanding actresses of her generation. Dame Helen’s incredibly successful career is testament to the determination, dedication and skill she brings to each of her roles.”
Dame Helen responded to the news with: ”This is the greatest professional honour I can imagine, certainly one I never dreamt of as a schoolgirl in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. To join that list of legendary names is overwhelming.”
The 68 year-old actress, who won the Oscar for Best Leading Actress in 2006 for her role in The Queen, has won the award that is bestowed upon someone “in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, television or games”.
Previous winners of the iconic award include Maggie Smith, Alfred Hitchcock, Judi Dench and Billy Wilder.
The BAFTA ceremony will air on the 16th February, presented by Stephen Fry on BBC One. Read the full list of nominations here.
