Meryl Streep was left "honoured and humbled" to receive a top award from New York's Barnard College at a ceremony on Monday (17May10).
The Mamma Mia! star was handed the Barnard Medal of Distinction, and she made a heartfelt speech in front of the other graduates.
She told the crowd, "Barnard women have advantage and need to look forward to speeding progress in areas of suffering. There is only change, resistance to it, then more change.
"(Film) Awards have little bearing on my own personal wellbeing and happiness. Being here has helped me dig deep to find something to offer you.
"And you don't have to do anything except to make your parents proud. And you already have."
Streep has enhoyed a movie career that has lasted almost forty years and brought her two Oscars from sixteen nominations.
She was last seen on the big screen earlier thi syear with romantic comedy it's Complicated.
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