British actor Ian McKellen will be presented with a lifetime achievement award at the Berlin Film Festival this month. The 66-year-old Lord of the Rings star will collect the Golden Bear Award, honoring his career in film, television and theatre, at the German event.

Widely considered one of the leading British actors of his generation, McKellen has had a rich and varied career encompassing the stage, screen, and television. A renowned stage actor in his native Britain for decades, McKellen was not familiar to most American audiences until the '90s, when he began popping up in a number of well-received films. One of these, Gods and Monsters, elevated the actor into the international spotlight when he earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Frankenstein director James Whale. McKellen's upcoming projects include X-Men 3 and The Da Vinci Code.

The Berlin Film Festival starts tomorrow and runs until February 19. The award ceremony is on February 18.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)