Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson is to put her career on hold to help raise awareness of HIV and Aids in Africa.

The British star is reportedly taking a year out with her partner and young daughter.

She has teamed up with the charity Action Aid to highlight the plight of the HIV and Aids in the third world.

Thompson told the Daily Mail newspaper that it had been an ambition of hers to do voluntary work overseas.

She said: "I will talk to women and orphans and try to spread the message about Aids to inform people of the risks.

"The problem with Africa is that people are not talking about their problems."

Celebrity

Thompson, who won a best actress Oscar for Howard's End, is hoping her status will encourage people to take notice.

She said: "Celebrities can sometimes help get a good reaction for a cause."

Thompson will be accompanied on her mission by her partner, actor Greg Wise, and their 17-month-old daughter Gaia.

Thompson, whose former husband is actor Kenneth Branagh, took a break from acting following the birth of her child and says now is the right time to help others.

The actress, who also won an Oscar for best screenplay for Sense and Sensibility, hopes to begin the trip before the end of the year, the newspaper said.