Mirren to be honored at British Academy awards

LONDON (AP) — Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren, whose roles have ranged from a hard-nosed detective to Queen Elizabeth II, is to receive the British Academy Film Awards' highest honor.

The academy announced Monday that the 68-year-old will collect the BAFTA Fellowship at a London ceremony next month. Chairman John Willis said Mirren was being honored "as one of the most outstanding actresses of her generation."

Previous fellowship recipients include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Elizabeth Taylor and Judi Dench. Mirren said that "to join that list of legendary names is overwhelming."

Mirren was acclaimed for her starring role in the TV detective series "Prime Suspect" and won a best-actress Academy Award in 2006 for playing Britain's monarch in "The Queen."

The awards ceremony takes place Feb. 16 at London's Royal Opera House.