Tilda Swinton receives the Lifetime Achievement Award at Venice Film Festival’s opening ceremony

Tilda Swinton had much to celebrate as the Venice International Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday, when she was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The 59-year-old actress proudly held her coveted trophy aloft after receiving the honour at the opening ceremony from Cate Blanchett, who heads this year’s jury.

Doctor Strange star Tilda looked elated as she was handed the famous Golden Lion prize, as the 77th annual festival kicked off in socially distanced style.

Congrats! Tilda Swinton was presented with a Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award by Cate Blanchett at the Venice International Film Festival’s opening ceremony on Wednesday

When it was announced over the summer that Tilda would be receiving the award, she said in a statement: ‘This great festival has been dear to my heart for three decades: to be honoured by her in this way is extremely humbling.

‘To come to Venice, this year of all years, to celebrate immortal cinema and her defiant survival in the face of all the challenges that evolution might throw at her – as at us all – will be my sincere joy.’

As she arrived at the ceremony, Tilda stepped out in eye-catching style as she opted for a novel way of covering her face, by using a gold butterfly mask.

Winner! Tilda, whose first screen appearance was in Caravaggio in 1986, held up the prestigious award on stage

Elated: She appeared elated as she showed off the coveted prize

Winner! Tilda, whose first screen appearance was in 1986’s Caravaggio, held up the award aloft

Prestigious: The Golden Lion, the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival, was introduced in 1949 and is now regarded as one of the industry's most distinguished prizes

Prestigious: The Golden Lion, the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival, was introduced in 1949 and is now regarded as one of the industry’s most distinguished prizes

Tilda posed for pictures with the gold face covering, which brought some glamour to her white and black ensemble, consisting of a white blouse and frilly black maxi skirt.

Uncut Gems actress Tilda wore her rose gold locks in a voluminous up do, while enhancing her striking features with a rosy pallet of make-up.

London-born Tilda, whose first screen appearance was in 1986’s Caravaggio, held up the prestigious award on stage before returning to her seat, where she sat wearing a face mask during the socially distanced ceremony, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Golden Lion is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The award was introduced in 1949 by the committee and is now regarded as one of the industry’s most distinguished prizes. 

Delighted: Screen star Cate looked pleased as she handed the award to her fellow thespian

Delighted: Screen star Cate looked pleased as she handed the award to her fellow thespian

New rules: Tilda sat covered with a face mask during the socially distanced ceremony

New rules: Tilda sat covered with a face mask during the socially distanced ceremony

The Venice Film Festival is one of the world’s oldest award ceremonies and is listed as one of the ‘Big Five’ events. It starts on 2 September and ends on the 12 September. 

Though the event is still taking place, it is a markedly toned down affair to previous years amid the novel coronavirus crisis, with temperature checks and mask wearing becoming mandatory. 

Tilda has daughter Honor, 21, and son Xavier with her former partner John Byrne, 79, a Scottish artist and playwright. 

Since 2004, she has been with in a relationship with the German-born painter Sandro Kopp, but the couple do not often appear in public together.

Star appearance: As she arrived at the ceremony, the London-born screen star opted for a novel way of covering her face, by using a gold butterfly mask

Star appearance: As she arrived at the ceremony, the London-born screen star opted for a novel way of covering her face, by using a gold butterfly mask

Outfit details: Tilda posed for pictures with the gold face covering, which brought extra glamour to her white and black ensemble, consisting of a white blouse and frilly black maxi skirt

Sensational: She looks sensational as she posed up a storm

Outfit details: Tilda posed for pictures with the gold face covering, which brought extra glamour to her white and black ensemble, consisting of a white blouse and black maxi skirt

Screen star Tilda and her daughter recently appeared in The Souvenir together, which was directed by British filmmaker Julia Hogg.

Tilda has successfully juggled independent films with more mainstream Hollywood fare over the course of her three decades-long career.

She’s appeared in such high profile movies as Vanilla Sky, Constantine, Michael Clayton, The Chronicles of Narnia trilogy and the Marvel superhero films Doctor Strange and Avengers: Endgame.

She has also starred in acclaimed lower budget films including The Deep End, Thumbsucker, Broken Flowers and We Need To Talk About Kevin.

Strike a pose: The Uncut Gems actress wore her rose gold locks in a voluminous up do, while enhancing her striking features with a rosy palette of makeup

Strike a pose: The Uncut Gems actress wore her rose gold locks in a voluminous up do, while enhancing her striking features with a rosy palette of makeup