Vanessa Redgrave honoured for 50 years in film

British actress Vanessa Redgrave has been honoured for her 50 years in film by the Oscars Academy.

This is the first time that the Academy has handed out a tribute to an actor in Europe, praising the actress for making more than 70 films.

Sir David Hare hosted the event at the Curzon in Soho on 13 November 2011 and said: "Wherever you go in the world, people know and admire Vanessa Redgrave.

'There are not many consistently brilliant 50-year careers in the history of cinema, but hers is one of them."

Other guests at the award ceremony included her daughter Joely Richardson, Ralph Fiennes, Meryl Streep and James Earl Jones.

The 74-year-old said she was simply amazed at the tribute.

Redgrave is known for portraying strong female characters, such as Anne Boleyn in 'A Man For All Seasons' (1966) and Guinevere in 'Camelot' (1967).

She won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of an anti-Nazi activist in the 1977 film 'Julia'.