Dame Helen Mirren will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Oscar winning British actress - best known for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 film 'The Queen' - will unveil the honour in a ceremony to be held on January 3.

Her star will be the 2,488th added to the walkway, next to fellow British actor Colin Firth's. Both lie across the road from English theme bar the Pig 'n' Whistle on Hollywood Boulevard.

Ana Martinez, producer of the Walk Of Fame, said: "What a way to start the New Year on the Walk of Fame with one of the most acclaimed actresses known around the world.

"We are thrilled to honour Helen and welcome her to our Walk of Fame family."

Helen, 67, has said one of the reasons she has only appeared to  become a superstar in recent years is because she shunned Hollywood in her early years, as she found it "misogynist and sexist".

Asked about her surge in popularity since 'The Queen', she said: "Well, that's how it looks from the outside. My success grew slowly but constantly. I've been working every year since I started acting and I got many awards before I won the Oscar for 'The Queen'.

"Maybe it's because I've never been interested in big Hollywood flicks and I've only been in a few recently. I've always sensed a misogynist and sexist attitude, even in the 60's and 70's."