King's Speech star Firth picks up award from Mirren

Dame Helen Mirren (r) won the best actress Oscar for The Queen in 2007

Actor Colin Firth has picked up an award from Dame Helen Mirren at a film festival in Palm Springs, California.

Firth, tipped to win an Oscar for his performance as George VI in The King's Speech, was given the Desert Palm actor achievement award at Saturday's gala.

Dame Helen, who won an Academy Award for playing the title role in The Queen, joked: "Actually, I am not the Queen and neither is Colin the King."

The King's Speech made £3.5m in the UK this weekend, its distributor said.

Firth was among a number of British winners at Saturday's awards

Firth, who bowed before Dame Helen as he received his accolade, said the festival had got his 51st year "off to a great start".

"Two days ago, I got on a plane in a very icy grey London," he was quoted as saying.

"It's a miracle to me that 10 hours later I can be here in the fragrant breezes of southern California."

Other British winners at the festival included actress Carey Mulligan, whose work in Never Let Me Go saw her honoured with a breakthrough performance trophy.

Danny Boyle won the Sonny Bono Visionary award, while Andrew Garfield shared the ensemble prize with his Social Network co-stars Jesse Eisenberg and Armie Hammer.

Natalie Portman, Spanish star Javier Bardem and actor turned director Ben Affleck were also honoured at the event.

Actor Robert Duvall, meanwhile, picked up a Career Achievement award just a few days after marking his 80th birthday.