The veteran actor said he was "very honoured" to be given the Alexander Walker Special Award for his contribution to cinema at the Evening Standard British Film Awards.

He was presented with his prize by My Beautiful Laundrette director Stephen Frears.

Hurt, 72, is also due to collect the outstanding British contribution to cinema award at the Baftas on Sunday.

The Elephant Man star was joined at the Evening Standard event at the London Film Museum on the South Bank by stars including Doctor Who actor Matt Smith, Downton's Elizabeth McGovern and Birdsong's Clemence Poesy.

Others winners included Michael Fassbender, who picked up the best actor award for his portrayal of a sex addict in Shame and his role in Jane Eyre.

Rev star Olivia Colman won the best actress award for her performance in Tyrannosaur, beating three Oscar winners - Vanessa Redgrave, Rachel Weisz and Tilda Swinton - to the prize.

The award for best film went to Lynne Ramsay's We Need To Talk About Kevin, about a woman's attempt to come to terms with her son's involvement in an American high school massacre.

Others winners at the awards, hosted by Green Wing star Stephen Mangan, included Irish film The Guard, which won the Peter Sellers award for comedy and Senna, which was named best documentary.

Hurt was modest about his award, saying: "I have had them before but I always thought I was a little bit too young, but I suppose when you've gone past 70 you can't really say you're too young. I feel very flattered, I feel very honoured, and I don't feel that I deserve it. I really don't."