Sir Sean has said he will not live in Scotland until it is independent

The 75-year-old Scottish actor said he wished he could be accepting the prize, "as if Scotland was independent and had a voice in Europe".

His words were welcomed by the Scottish National Party.

Former Bond actor Sir Sean won the lifetime award in recognition of a career spanning more than 50 years.

He accepted the prize from Jean-Jacques Annaud, who directed him in The Name Of The Rose.

He then invited the audience in Berlin to the 60th Edinburgh Film Festival.

"Just ask for me and you'll get a good seat," he joked.

Seventy films

A spokesperson for the SNP said: "The SNP are very proud to have the support of Sir Sean.

"We congratulate him on this prestigious honour."

Sir Sean has appeared in more than 70 films including playing the iconic Bond character seven times.

Among his film credits are A Bridge Too Far, Marnie, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, working with many of the great directors including Alfred Hitchcock, Sir Richard Attenborough and Steven Spielberg.

He won a best supporting actor Oscar in 1988 for his role in The Untouchables and was knighted by the Queen in 2002 for his services to film.

But it is his years playing James Bond that he is probably best remembered for, first taking on the role in 1962 in Dr No and bowing out in 1983 in Never Say Never Again.