The British actress was feted by the organisation for her portrayal of Maria Altmann, who spent four decades battling Austrian officials for the safe return of Gustav Klimt's famous The Lady in Gold painting, which was stolen from her family by the Nazis during World War II.

The picture, which was returned in 2006, is now housed in Neue Galerie in New York City and on Friday (19Jun15), Mirren received the group's Recognition Award in front of the iconic painting.

Guests at the event included movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, whose film company was behind Woman in Gold.