Ian McKellen, Peter Jackson and other film greats have paid glowing tributes to Cate Blanchett as she accepted the British Film Institute's highest honour.
The Oscar-winning Australian was in London on Saturday evening to receive the institute's 2015 fellowship which has been awarded to a line of revered actors before her.
Wearing a long white gown, embellished with sequins on the shoulders, the 46-year-old signed autographs on the red carpet before entering London's Banqueting House for the ceremony.
"To be honoured by the British Film Institute is such an incredible honour, particularly given the list of people who've been honoured before me," she told reporters.
"So many people who've been a great influence on me creatively - and also I've long adored cinema from this region, so I feel incredibly blessed to be here tonight."
The BFI fellowship is awarded to individuals in recognition of their outstanding contribution to film or television. Previous fellowship recipients were Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier, Al Pacino, Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Carter, Christopher Lee and Ralph Fiennes.
Blanchett was presented with her BFI fellowship by McKellen, her former Lord Of The Rings co-star and veteran British actor.
He introduced her by saying, "The strong woman, the great actress, Cate Blanchett".
McKellen said Blanchett had "conquered the film world with a series of wondrous, indelible performance" and he admired her intelligence, wit, humanity, good humour and professionalism.
Accepting the award Blanchett said she could not say why she became an actor in the first place.
"In a way I think it chose me."
She said she had been made to look good and stretch her creativity by working with people who were more talented than her.
Blanchett said her extraordinary and supportive husband Andrew Upton had congratulated her on her first film but warned it was tough for women in the film industry.
"F**k you darling, I'm still here," she said to applause.
"Let's move on, equality is equality, there's no partial representation."
Before the award was presented a highlights reel of her films was shown along with tributes from directors and others in the film industry.
New Zealand director Peter Jackson said the role of the royal elf Galdriel in Lord of Rings played by Blanchett required sophistication, culture, education, poise and grace.
"You don't normally look to Australia for those sort of factors quite honestly.
"But you know Cate, you defied the stereotype ... and that's what you've been doing your entire career."
After the ceremony Blanchett told reporters she was now working on having time off and "reading on a beach".
Blanchett has won Academy Awards for her roles in Martin Scorsese's film The Aviator and Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine.
Two of Blanchett's new films - Carol and Truth - had gala screenings at the BFI's London Film Festival this month.
