Helena Bonham Carter said tonight she hoped her Lifetime Achievement Award from the Critics' Circle was not a hint to stop acting.
Accepting the Dilys Powell Award for excellence in film at London's May Fair Hotel, the Oscar-winning actress joked that her recent string of accolades was like a disease.
Bonham Carter said: "It feels like a rash. It suddenly seems like I've got a contagion of diseases, I mean awards. But it's nice, it's a nice feeling.
Helena Bonham Carter with her Lifetime Achievement Award
"It's so weird, because I'm only 46. A lifetime achievement award... it feels like 'I'm not over yet'. I hope they're not trying to say it's time to stop. I'm only just getting the gist of it."
Last year, The King's Speech and A Room With A View star received a CBE for services to drama and a fellowship from the British Film Institute.
But she admitted it was good to get an award from the critics, who are not always so generous with their reviews.
Bonham Carter said: "I can quote verbatim all my bad reviews. I can remember all the bad ones. Basically because I agree with them.
"So it's nice because this is like a back good review."
Helena Bonham Carter and her husband Tim Burton
The actress, whose credits also include Howards End, Frankenstein, Fight Club and the Harry Potter films, was presented with the gong by director Mike Newell, who recently worked with her on Great Expectations.
He said: "She's like a kaleidoscope, she is able to deliver these wonderful, vivid characters again and again. They're all full of variety, full of wit and energy and I think people long to see what she's going to try next. She's become an institution.
"Working with her is always surprising, always harmonious. Not one tiny little bit of foot-stamping or tantrum-throwing. And she was delightful."
Also attending the 33rd London Critics' Circle Film Awards were Emily Blunt, Olivia Colman, Plan B and Rafe Spall.
Les Miserables director Tom Hooper had been due to attend but was unable to get there due to the snow.
The London Film Critics' Circle comprises UK film critics, broadcasters and writers who voted for the shortlist.
See red carpet pictures and all the winners of the 33rd London Critics' Circle Film Awards in full below:
:: The Sky Movies Award for Film of the Year - Amour.
:: Foreign Language Film of the Year - Rust and Bone.
:: Documentary of the Year - The Imposter.
:: The Attenborough Award for British Film of the Year presented by The May Fair Hotel - Berberian Sound Studio.
:: The Top 10 Films:
Amour
The Master
Life of Pi
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Zero Dark Thirty
Once Upon a Time in Anatolia
Django Unchained
Tabu
Rust and Bone
:: Actor of the Year Sponsored by Spotlight - Joaquin Phoenix for The Master.
:: Actress of the Year Sponsored by Spotlight - Emmanuelle Riva for Amour.
:: Supporting Actor of the Year - Philip Seymour Hoffman for The Master.
:: Supporting Actress of the Year - Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables.
:: British Actor of the Year in association with Cameo Productions - Toby Jones for Berberian Sound Studio.
:: British Actress of the Year - Andrea Riseborough for Shadow Dancer.
:: Young British Performer of the Year - Tom Holland for The Impossible.
:: The American Airlines Award for Director of the Year - Ang Lee for Life of Pi.
:: Screenwriter of the Year Sponsored by Distrupol - Michael Haneke for Amour.
:: Breakthrough British Film-maker - Alice Lowe and Steve Oram, writers and stars of Sightseers.
:: The Sky 3D Award for Technical Achievement - Bill Westenhofer, visual effects on Life of Pi.
:: Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film sponsored by Premier - Helena Bonham Carter.