MUMBAI: Shirley MacLaine will be presented with the American Film Institute (AFI)‘s 40th Life Achievement Award (America‘s highest honour for a career in film) on 7 June. The elder actress will be recognized for her breadth of talents as an actress, songstress, author, director and producer.

Meryl Streep will do the honour. Incidentally, Streep, who was honoured with the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2004, played MacLaine‘s daughter in Postcards From The Edge (1990). Luminaries from across the film community will join Streep to celebrate the career of MacLaine, one of America‘s treasured motion picture artistes.

Said AFI president, CEO Bob Gazzale, "The world loves Shirley MacLaine. AFI‘s challenge will be how to fit it all into one evening because hers is a life that spans from movies to television to Broadway, books and beyond. Perhaps more than any other recipient, with Shirley I would underline the word life in Life Achievement Award. Her‘s is a story more than just movies. It‘s an epic journey, and she has invited all of us to come along for the ride."

Incidentally, both MacLaine and Streep have also won Oscar Awards. Streep was nominated a record 17 times, including for Postcards From The Edge, won her third Oscar this year for The Iron Lady. While MacLaine was nominated six times, she won the Oscar once for Terms Of Endearment (1983).

The show will air on US cable network TV Land on 24 June.