Ullman gets lifetime Bafta prize

Tracey Ullman is a big hit in the US

British actress Tracey Ullman has been presented with a lifetime achievement prize from Bafta's Los Angeles branch.

The 49-year-old comedienne was given Bafta's first ever Charlie Chaplin award at the British Comedy Festival and Awards on Friday.

"It's lovely, I'm just thrilled. It's a nice achievement and I've got lots of friends here tonight," she said.

Ullman began her career on British TV, with shows like Three Of A Kind. She later created The Tracey Ullman Show.

"I've come a bloody long way from my mum's window sill - the original Tracy Ullman show," she said.

"I'd draw the curtains and my mum would sit in bed and I'd do a show on the window sill."

Osbourne tribute

The show went on to win several Emmy and Golden Globe awards when it was eventually shown on US TV.

It famously spawned The Simpsons, which started out as short sketches either side of the commercial break.

Event host Sharon Osbourne paid tribute to Ullman.

"It's not just her humour, it's everything that she does," she said.

"She can do anything. You know, she can be a serious actress, she can be the funniest woman on the planet. She can dance, she can sing. There's nothing she can't do. She's scary."

Comedian Peter Kay also attended the event as he picked up the best British comedy television programme award for his show, Britain's Got the Pop Factor.

The British Comedy Festival and Awards were part of Los Angeles' annual BritWeek festival.

The event, which honours British involvement in the city's cultural and business life, is the brainchild of American Idol producer and reality TV judge "nasty" Nigel Lythgoe.