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Helen Mirren: on stage or on screen, long may she reign over us Helen Mirren: on stage or on screen, long may she reign over us
(7 months later)
She does not believe in God and dyed her hair pink for the Baftas. Uniquely, she's played both Queen Elizabeths (I and II) on screen, also starring as DCI Jane Tennison in seven seasons of ITV's Prime Suspect. Arthur Miller once saluted an actress fearless in "the open expression of large emotions". She was raised "anti-monarchist", once bested Parkinson on TV and her White Russian father drove a London cab. No surprise, then, that Helen Lydia Mironoff, better known as Helen Mirren, is becoming the people's favourite.She does not believe in God and dyed her hair pink for the Baftas. Uniquely, she's played both Queen Elizabeths (I and II) on screen, also starring as DCI Jane Tennison in seven seasons of ITV's Prime Suspect. Arthur Miller once saluted an actress fearless in "the open expression of large emotions". She was raised "anti-monarchist", once bested Parkinson on TV and her White Russian father drove a London cab. No surprise, then, that Helen Lydia Mironoff, better known as Helen Mirren, is becoming the people's favourite.
Last week, Dame Helen confirmed her place in our hearts, playing Her Majesty again. The 67-year-old Oscar-winning actress brought West End theatre critics to their knees in adoration at her magical performance as Elizabeth Windsor, at once girlish and elderly, in Peter Morgan's The Audience. This witty and unlikely dramatisation of the queen's weekly conversations with eight of her 12 prime ministers, from an overbearing Winston Churchill to a puppyish David Cameron, received the kiss of life from a great actress in her prime.Last week, Dame Helen confirmed her place in our hearts, playing Her Majesty again. The 67-year-old Oscar-winning actress brought West End theatre critics to their knees in adoration at her magical performance as Elizabeth Windsor, at once girlish and elderly, in Peter Morgan's The Audience. This witty and unlikely dramatisation of the queen's weekly conversations with eight of her 12 prime ministers, from an overbearing Winston Churchill to a puppyish David Cameron, received the kiss of life from a great actress in her prime.
Variety, the American showbiz bible, located the success of "a classy night out" in Mirren's commanding performance. Dame Helen, warbled its critic, "effortlessly exudes highest possible status". But the truth is – perhaps this is why the British public loves her – she's not really like that, with no appetite for being a star.Variety, the American showbiz bible, located the success of "a classy night out" in Mirren's commanding performance. Dame Helen, warbled its critic, "effortlessly exudes highest possible status". But the truth is – perhaps this is why the British public loves her – she's not really like that, with no appetite for being a star.
Her refreshing lack of vanity can be captured in one telling movie anecdote. Most big-name actors do their reverse-angle shots ahead of the other players, pulling rank. On set, however, Mirren waits to see what other actors' takes are like. Then she records her reverse angles. So we see her reacting to everything in sequence and in character. Her responses are real; her performance as good as it can be. It's this no-nonsense dedication that makes Dame Helen the queen of the big picture. And the national stage, too.Her refreshing lack of vanity can be captured in one telling movie anecdote. Most big-name actors do their reverse-angle shots ahead of the other players, pulling rank. On set, however, Mirren waits to see what other actors' takes are like. Then she records her reverse angles. So we see her reacting to everything in sequence and in character. Her responses are real; her performance as good as it can be. It's this no-nonsense dedication that makes Dame Helen the queen of the big picture. And the national stage, too.
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