Lily Tomlin offered advice to aspiring actors as she picked up her SAG Life Achievement Award - and her tips included wear sunscreen and don't go out when drunk.

Lily Tomlin

Lily Tomlin

The 77-year-old actress had the audience at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium in fits of laughter as she accepted the prize from her friend Dolly Parton at the ceremony on Sunday (29.01.17) and shared her tips for surviving in the industry for so long.

Giving advice to young hopefuls, she said: "Along with telling them to wear sunscreen, I suggest a few other things I think you may find helpful.

"Don't leave your house when you're drunk. If you're already out, you must learn to tell when you've had too much to drink.

"Listen to your friends. When they stop talking to you and start talking about you, saying things like, 'Did she have a purse?'

"Don't be anxious when you miss an opportunity. Behind every failure is an opportunity someone wishes they had missed.

"Mind what [Henry David] Thoreau said, 'Beware of any enterprise that requires new clothing.' Doesn't that ring sort of true tonight to a few of you? It does to me."

After Dolly - who had stepped in to present the award after their '9 to 5' co-star Jane Fonda fell ill - presented a montage of her friend's most famous work, Lily expressed her amazement she'd done so well as she only ever "showed promise" to be "trouble".

She said: "When I recall my youth, I can't even point to a time where I showed promise to be anything but trouble. When I was a senior in high school, my counselor called me into his office to tell me they were thinking of holding back my diploma.

"Turned out I'd been a student for four years but, I had been absent one. Cumulatively I'd been absent one year. I would literally stay out, 12, 13 days in a row if my hair didn't turn out right. Those of you from that era know what I mean because hair was really important. But, somehow, I learned to turn my flaws into spiritual lessons."

Dolly's introduction was equally hilarious as Lily's speech as she poked fun at her famous assets.

The 71-year-old country singer quipped: "I almost didn't get in. They were holding me backstage, kept wanting to see my IDs. At least I think that's what he asked to see. It was something with IDs, maybe double Ds. Well, I'm glad to get that off my chest.

"I might say Lily is getting an award for something I've spent my whole life trying to avoid, a SAG award. I see something sagging, I'm calling Dr. Markowitz, to get that nipped, tucked, and stuffed right away."

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