In a career spanning spanning six decades, Hurt has played a number of legendary roles including Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four and John Merrick in The Elephant Man, a role which netted him the 1981 Best Actor award.
More recently he has appeared as Ollivander in the Harry Potter series and Control in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – both films are BAFTA-nominated this year.
His TV work includes The Naked Civil Servant for which he won the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor in 1976 and BBC One’s Merlin.
Hurt is also a keen supporter of short films, most recently appearing in Sailcloth, an powerful silent movie from writer/director Elfar Adalsteins.
Tim Corrie, Chairman of BAFTA, said: “John Hurt is an actor it is both exciting and fascinating to watch. He has extraordinary screen presence and brings utter conviction to every role he undertakes. He is one of a kind, an iconic figure, and BAFTA is delighted to take this opportunity to honour his outstanding contribution to cinema.”
John Hurt added: “I know that film means a great deal to me but I had no idea that I meant so much to film. I feel very honoured.”
The Orange British Academy Film Awards take place on Sunday 12 February, hosted by Stephen Fry and broadcast on BBC One.