Actor and writer Sir Peter Ustinov was honoured by the German president on Wednesday as a "one-man creative force".

President Johannes Rau hosted a celebrity reception for the actor at Berlin's Bellevue presidential palace, calling Ustinov "a citizen of the world from Britain".

The German president Johannes Rau honours Ustinov

He is a household name in Germany, as an actor, writer, director and philosopher and speaks German fluently.

"I thank you for your enriching of Germany," President Rau told the actor.

'Healthy years'

He added: "I wish you many good and healthy years, ideas, words and puns to come."

Sir Peter was born in London, with a German father and French mother. His father was a journalist who later became a German diplomat.

He has won two Academy Awards, for supporting roles in Spartacus in 1960 and Topkapi in 1964.

He has featured in 80 films, beginning with My Crimes as a 19-year-old in 1940, as well as directing eight films himself.

Numerous novels'

As a writer, he has produced 20 plays, eight screenplays, as well as numerous novels.

The actor also featured in a German television tribute on Monday, where he was greeted by friends such as Roger Moore and Ursula Andress.

"I am quite thankful," Sir Peter said. "I believe that I have been understood here in Germany."