Veteran British actor Sir John Mills, one of the country's most beloved and best-known screen stars who appeared in more than 100 films, died on Saturday aged 97 after a brief illness.

　　"Sir John Mills died peacefully at home after a short illness," a member of his staff said in a brief statement.

　　The hugely respected stage, screen and television actor, whose career spanned more than 70 years, won a best supporting actor Oscar in 1971 for "Ryan's Daughter".

　　His family was travelling to Britain from the United States and was expected to arrive by Monday, the BBC reported.

　　Mills, whose daughter Hayley has also had a highly successful acting career, began in stage musical revues, being discovered by actor and composer Noel Coward.

　　He starred as Pip in the 1946 classic "Great Expectations", and was also renowned for appearing in a string of well-known war titles, including "Ice Cold in Alex", "Dunkirk" and "Tunes of Glory".

　　Mills once explained that he was opposed to war and thought that for the public "to be reminded of what happens because of wars is no bad thing".

　　Fellow British acting veteran Lord Richard Attenborough said Mills was "almost unequalled as a world British movie star", adding that he was "adored" by everyone who had worked with him.

　　"There was no-one comparable really. He gave such a variety of impeccable performances," said Attenborough, whose first film role was a tiny part in 1942's "In Which Serve", starring Mills.

　　"I shall miss him very much but I shall not be alone. He will be hugely missed," Attenborough told BBC radio.

　　Britain's Queen Elizabeth was "sorry" to hear of the death, a spokeswoman said, while Prime Minister Tony Blair said he had been "honoured" to be a friend of Mills.

　　"John Mills was a great actor, a true gentleman and a loyal friend; someone who made us proud to be British," Blair said in a statement.

　　"Over many decades and countless films he inspired us with his ability, warmth and spirit.

　　Mills is survived by his wife of 64 years, playwright Mary Hayley Bell, his son, Jonathan, and daughters Hayley and Juliette, the latter also an actress.

　　John and Mary Mills wed in 1941 and remained devoted to each other. Their wedding was a rushed, civil ceremony due to the war, and 60 years later they had the union blessed in a church.

　　After training as a dancer, Mills had his first taste of the stage in 1929 when he appeared in the chorus of "The Five O'Clock Review", later appearing in Coward's revues before switching to stage drama, notably Shakespeare.

　　He had some success in the United States -- notably with "Ryan's Daughter" -- but never regretted being based largely in Britain.

　　"I love it here, and my wife and I wouldn't be happy anywhere else," Mills once said.

　　"So, if I lived in Hollywood I would simply be rich and unhappy. What's the point in that?"