More than 30 years after her big break opposite Michael Caine in Educating Rita, Julie Walters will be honoured with a Bafta fellowship next month. The actor, a regular collaborator with Victoria Wood, has won six Baftas in her career to date, most recently for her portrayaling of former Northern Ireland secretary the late Mo Mowlam in Channel 4's Mo.

"I am honoured to receive this prestigious award and extremely shocked," said Walters. "I've worked with some brilliant people over the years and have been very fortunate to have had the opportunities to work on such a variety of projects."

Walters was first nominated for a Bafta for her role in Alan Bleasdale's BBC drama, Boys from the Blackstuff in 1983. She went on to be recognised for her roles in Billy Elliot and Willy Russell's Educating Rita, her first Bafta win, among many others.

Andrew Newman, chair of Bafta's television committee, said: "She is someone who will be a massively popular winner both with critics and the public. She is able almost uniquely to be in really heavyweight dramas but also in hilarious comedy roles. She is a wonderful actress who is very much at the top of her game." Walters has worked with Victoria Wood on the BBC1 sitcom Dinnerladies and the sketch show Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, in which she played Mrs Overall in the spoof soap, Acorn Antiques, which was later recreated on stage.

Previous recipients of the award include Melvyn Bragg, Richard Curtis, Bruce Forsyth and Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Last year it went to Michael Palin.

Bafta chief executive Amanda Berry said: "Julie Walters is one the most talented individuals to grace our screens. She has the innate ability to draw the viewer in across any genre, captivating and entertaining with every performance. Julie is thoroughly deserving of the Fellowship, the highest honour the Academy can bestow."

Walters will receive the award at the Bafta TV awards at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, on 18 May. The ceremony will be screened on BBC1.