Honourary Oscar for Bacall

Lauren Bacall has been given an honorary Oscar.

The legendary actress accepted the honour this weekend, four months before the full ceremony takes place.

Upon receiving the award, she quipped: “I can't believe it - a man at last. The thought that when I get home I'm going to have a two-legged man in my room is so exciting.”

The 85-year-old screen icon accepted the gong at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 2009 Governors Awards, held on Saturday, where she also paid tribute to her late husband Humphrey Bogart, describing him as “my great love”.

The ‘Big Sleep’ actress also thanked a number of leading men who had starred alongside her, including Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck and Henry Fonda.

Speaking at the ceremony, Douglas insisted Bacall's image as a tough woman was all show, saying: "She's a pussycat and has a heart of gold."

Anjelica Huston presented Bacall with her prize in what was the first time the film academy has given its Governors Awards at a ceremony separate from the gala Oscars, which take place in March 2010.

In her speech Huston said Bacall “defines what it means to be a great actress and also a huge movie star”.

Bacall had never won an Oscar before in her 65-year career, although she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 1996 for ‘The Mirror Has Two Faces’.

B-movie director Roger Corman, 83, and ‘Godfather’ cinematographer Gordon Willis, 78, were also awarded statuettes.