SEAN CONNERY - CONNERY TO BE AWARDED TOP AFI HONOUR

Veteran actor SIR SEAN CONNERY is to be awarded the American Film Institute's (AFI) Life Achievement Award to honour his outstanding contribution to film.

Scottish Connery is most famous for his role as superspy JAMES BOND, who he played six times between 1962 and 1971, and once again in unofficial 007 movie NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN.

In 1988, the 75-year-old won the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his role in BRIAN DE PALMA's gangster film THE UNTOUCHABLES.

Connery, the 34th person to be presented with the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, will collect his honour at a ceremony in Los Angeles on 8 June next year (06).

The AFI's HOWARD STRINGER says, "Though best remembered for creating one of the great film heroes of all time, his talents transcend typecasting.

"His body of work not only stands the test of time, but illuminates a career more extraordinary than James Bond himself."

Previous AFI Life Achievement Award recipients include CLINT EASTWOOD, ROBERT DE NIRO, ALFRED HITCHCOCK and STEVEN SPIELBERG.