Morgan Freeman for AFI honour

Morgan Freeman has been named as the 2011 recipient of the American Film Institute's (AFI) Lifetime Achievement Award.

According to The AP, Freeman will receive the honour at gala event in June.

AFI's chairman Sir Howard Stringer praised the Oscar winner as "an American treasure" who brings prestige to his roles "whether playing a prisoner, a president or God".

Previous recipients of the award include Alfred Hitchcock, Meryl Streep and Orson Welles.

Freeman will next appear in the action film Red, which is released on October 22 in UK and US cinemas.