Dame Helen Mirren has won another award for her portrayal of the Queen in the stage play, 'The Audience' on Sunday ceremony.

Dame Helen, who won an Oscar for The Queen in 2007, was named best actress for her performance as the monarch in West End stage play The Audience at the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

Dame Helen who also won an Olivier for her work in Peter Morgan's play, said she felt her awards were being given to the Queen as much as to her.

While responding excitedly, she said "I did feel very much that the response to the play was as much a response to that person, that extraordinary woman, as it was to my performance. But I should be very proud," she said before receiving her award.

The best actor prize was given jointly to Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear, for their performances as Shakespeare's Othello and Iago at the National.

Dame Maggie Smith and Lord Lloyd-Webber received special awards.

The former was presented the Evening Standard Theatre Icon award by actress Kristin Scott Thomas, while the latter was recognised for his contribution to musical theatre.

Other honours were presented to actor Kevin Spacey for his work at London's Old Vic theatre, and to David Walliams for his performance as Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Homeland star Damian Lewis hosted the awards at London's Savoy Hotel, attended by such luminaries as broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, London Mayor Boris Johnson, actor Hugh Grant and singer Tori Amos.

Evening Standard editor Sarah Sands said she and her fellow judges had been "dazzled" by the talent on show this year and had found making their decisions "tougher than ever".