Glenda Jackson has been honored by the British Independent Film Association (BIFA) for her outstanding contribution to the British film industry.

Jackson, 85, received BIFA's prestigious Richard Harris Award from Josh O'Connor, one of her co-stars in the upcoming British film Mothering Sunday. You can watch the video here. Previous recipients of the accolade, named in honor of late Gladiator and Harry Potter actor Richard Harris, include Judi Dench, Daniel Day-Lewis, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Emma Thompson, and Helena Bonham Carter.

Jackson, who has won Best Actress at the Oscars twice — for 1970's Women in Love and 1973's A Touch of Class — said in a statement: "I was very surprised to receive this award; it's very kind of BIFA!"

Jackson pressed pause on her enormously successful acting career in 1992 when she became a Labour Party MP. She served in the British parliament until 2015, when she stood down and returned to stage and screen. Since then, she has added both a BAFTA TV Award and a Tony to her trophy cabinet, and now has two films in the works: Mothering Sunday with O'Connor, Olivia Colman, and Colin Firth, and The Great Escaper with Michael Caine.

BIFA hailed the Liverpool-born actress as "a pioneer of stage and screen whose choice of roles has often challenged and changed the narrative around both class and female representation."

The organization added: "Her incredible body of work has spanned many genres and generations and she remains, to this day, one of the UK’s most talented and beloved thespians. Not only a multi award-winning actress but also a respected parliamentarian, her return to her craft in recent years, to much critical acclaim and joy, has been a triumph. Her contribution to the British film industry has been lasting and impactful and we are thrilled to honor her and her incredible body of work with this award."

You can find out more about Glenda Jackson's life and career in our British Icon feature from August.

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