Top award for Julie's latest role

Iconic 60s actress Julie Christie, who has a home in Mid Wales, has triumphed in this year's Screen Actors Guild Awards for her latest film role.

Christie won the leading actress award for Away From Her, and is also expected to triumph at the Oscars later this year.

Though Christie attended the glamorous award ceremony in Los Angeles yesterday, it's a far cry from her home in the UK - a ramshackle barn of a place near Cefn-y-Coed, Llandyssil, near Montgomery.

Neighbours in the area say when Christie is at home in Wales, her life couldn't be further from the bright lights and fame of the film world.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "Julie's been here for so long, we're used to having her around, but her living arrangements have always raised a few eyebrows.

"She doesn't bother about her appearance and often goes into town in wellies caked in pig dirt."

The actress, who also has homes in London and Spain, bought a farm in the area many years ago. It was seen as something of a hippy commune where lots of friends stayed, but over the years fewer people have visited.

Latterly, she rented out the farmhouse and moved into one of the barns.

Resident, Tim Halford, said: "She spends some time here each year and I think she was last here at Christmas, but you don't see much of her. She keeps herself very much to herself but we all know how much she loves this area."