Jenny Agutter was awarded an OBE today for her philanthropic work for numerous charitable causes, The Daily Mail reports.

Perhaps most loved for her role in both the film and TV versions of The Railway Children, Agutter went on to forge a prosperous career in Hollywood before turning to star in U.K crime series Spooks. Her work as an actress has enabled her to support many charities, the latter work which today (Friday, October 19) was recognized in the form of an OBE. Speaking after the presentation, she said: 'It's lovely to be recognised for the work I've done. I think the charitable sector has a great many people who work voluntarily and I'm totally inspired by them and feel privileged to, in a way, have this honour on their behalf - there are a lot of people working very, very hard. But I'm in a position where, I guess, because of being an actress one's in the front line - that's what one has to use to draw people's attention often to charities."

The 59-year-old has been supporting organisations such as the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Action For Children for many years. 'I work with a handful who are very, very important to me and the people I work with are extraordinary and really wonderful," she went onto explain.