He is a 32-year old footballer, with no known acting ability.

Yet, it was Dame Helen Mirren who was rendered almost speechless last night at the Greatest Briton Awards as she came face to face with David Beckham.

Wearing a glamorous silver evening gown, teamed with matching shawl and diamond-encrusted jewels Dame Helen said: "I am absolutely speechless. What can I say?

"He is the best of Britain in every way. He is a great icon for this country." And it appears Mr Beckham also shared this sentiment.

Amid screams from adoring fans, Beckham, dressed in a black suit, appeared unconcerned with the crowd as he hastily made his way through to the awards.

He ignored shouts begging him to stop and sign autographs.

Like the Beckhams, whose move to LA is in just three weeks away, Dame Helen also shares a home in America with husband Taylor Hackford.

But, unlike Mr Beckham she was keen to point out that she was so "proud" and "in love" with Britain.

Her role as queens Elizabeth I and II on the small and big screen have earned her a string of coveted awards but it was the widely-circulated rumours of her snubbing of the actual queen - Elizabeth II - that played most on her mind.

She said: "No it is not true that I snubbed the Queen. She is an amazing hard-working woman as I am.

"If you are working there's absolutely nothing you can do, especially in the job I was doing in South Dakota. It's not as if I was in Manchester."