Top accolade for Ralph Fiennes

The star, whose latest film, Coriolanus, is tipped for Oscar recognition, will be given the BFI’s highest honour later this month.

Canadian film director David Cronenberg, behind movies such as Videodrome, Naked Lunch and Crash, will also be given a fellowship during the BFI London Film Festival.

Fiennes has starred in movies such as The End Of The Affair, The English Patient and Schindler’s List, as well as bringing to life evil Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films.

His version of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus – which he also directed – will be given a gala screening at the festival.

Fiennes said he was “extremely honoured and delighted” by the accolade. Cronenberg said: “This is a monumental, in fact overwhelming, honour.”