Emma Thompson and mother Phyllida Law receive honorary degrees in Glasgow

Emma Thompson and her mother Phyllida Law have starred in films together

Emma Thompson has said receiving an honorary degree alongside her mother Phyllida Law is their "best starring role together".

The acting duo were awarded honorary doctorates in drama from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) in Glasgow.

The pair have starred in films together, including The Winter Guest.

Nanny McPhee star Thompson won an Oscar for her lead role in the 1992 movie Howards End.

Thompson said: "It was so much fun. It's our best starring role together, definitely.

"We've not received anything like this before and we both feel slightly fraudulent because when I told my son he asked 'how many essays did you have to write to get that?'

"We've both had so much work as actors and are still working so to get a degree for it is great, I suppose in a sense it's a reward for hanging in there.

"So many actors fall by the wayside so maybe this is recognition because we're still going."

Law joked: "It's certainly not for our looks, it's a dreadful mistake to be born exquisitely beautiful because it wears off by 28.

"Thankfully we didn't need to worry about that."

Law, who was born in Glasgow and was married to actor Eric Thompson from 1957 until his death in 1982, has appeared in many documentaries and interviews concerning her late husband's narration on The Magic Roundabout and was in the original London cast of La Cage Aux Folles at London Palladium.

Second degree

The 81-year-old will receive a second degree when she becomes honorary doctor of letters from Glasgow Caledonian University later in the week.

Law said: "It's great fun to be able to do this together, much better than collecting it on your own and to get it in Glasgow is great.

"It's quite silly that I'm getting another one but it means I'll have two and Emma will be in the audience this time to see me."

Thompson is married to Royal Conservatoire alumnus Greg Wise and said she is delighted to keep up the family tradition, even if her husband is not.

"Greg graduated from here in the 80s or 90s and he's fit to be dead and spitting feathers at home because he had to do so much work and exams to get his degree and we just had to turn up to become doctors."

The honours for the mother and daughter see them join the likes of singer Annie Lennox, comedian Billy Connolly and actor Tilda Swinton, who have all received honorary doctorates from the Conservatoire, previously the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Also receiving honorary doctorates were opera singer Patricia MacMahon and Jenny Sealy, a producer for the London 2012 Paralympics opening ceremony.