Oscar nominee Naomie Harris is officially a member of the Office of the British Empire. The 40-year-old, who for her roles in James Bond and Moonlight, was honoured by the Queen at Buckingham Palace for her services to drama on Thursday (Feb. 23). Dressed in a striking Mary Katrantzou number, the star appeared delighted as she received her OBE in front of a large audience. Following the ceremony, Naomie credited her career to director Danny Boyle for "taking a chance" on her at the start of her career. "This is really phenomenal," she told reporters. "This is representing my country and being recognized for having made a contribution to the nation. It can't get better than that."

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"I credit so much to Danny Boyle," she added. "He really gave me a chance when nobody else would at the start of my career when I had no credits to my name. Then later on he gave me a part in Frankenstein at the National after having left drama school ten years before and not having done any theatre. He took a chance again and that’s how Bond happened." When asked what it was like to meet the monarch, she replied: "I was impressed by how youthful she looked. She looked incredibly young and really healthy – and she has good skin."

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The prestigious moment comes days before Naomie is expected to fly to Los Angeles for the 89th Academy Awards on Sunday night. The British star is up for a best supporting actress for playing a drug-addicted mother in Moonlight. Her most notable role is Miss Moneypenny in the last two James Bond films, she is also famous for starring as Winnie Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. The Academy Awards take place in Los Angeles on 26 February.