Hollywood actress Julie Walters is made a Dame by the Queen

Hollywood star Julie Walters was made a Dame today by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

The actress from Smethwick received the honour for her services to drama, almost 35 years after her breakout role in Educating Rita, for which she was nominated for an Oscar.

Since then she has bagged a second Academy Award nomination for her turn in Billy Elliot and has had starring roles in films including Mamma Mia, Calendar Girls, Brave and seven of the eight Harry Potter films, playing Molly Weasley.<

On the small screen she is best known for her collaborations with the late Victoria Wood, including Wood And Walters and Dinnerladies.

She was named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours.