Stars become Andersen ambassadors

Geoffrey Rush won an Oscar in 1997 for his lead role in Shine

Actor Geoffrey Rush has been made an ambassador for Hans Christian Andersen in a Sydney ceremony marking 200 years since the storyteller's birth.

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers star was made ambassador alongside soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Denmark's Crown Princess Mary.

The princess read Andersen's tale The Ugly Duckling to sick children.

A three-day celebration of the author's life and work will be held in Copenhagen from 2 April.

Denmark's national poet, Andersen stories included The Little Match Girl and The Ugly Duckling.

Rush, who won a best actor Oscar in 1997 for his lead role in Shine, was honoured alongside fellow celebrities at the Sydney Opera House ceremony on Monday.