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I am excited to feature the one and only Dame Helen Mirren. Helen Mirren is one of my favorite actresses and she has such grace, elegance and beauty. She has won so many awards that she is the only performer to have achieved both the American and the British Triple Crowns of Acting. I believe she only needs a Grammy for the elusive EGOT. In a career that spans decades, Mirren is still at the top of her game and just like fine wine, she gets more gorgeous with each passing day.
Queen Elizabeth II- The Queen (2006)
You KNOW how much I love me some Helen Mirren, and she was terrific playing Queen Elizabeth. Her poise and characteristics were spot on. She must’ve studied a lot because she was phenomenal as the Queen during the death of Princess Diana. The scene that was touching was when her car breaks down, and she sits and cries as she is having an epiphany moment. We never see her cry, but you know the powerful woman has feelings. Mirren won the Academy Award for this role.
Morgana- Excalibur (1981)
A film that had everyone in it, Excalibur is an epic medieval fantasy film with some epic music. It is a film that retells the legends of King Arthur and his life. Mirren plays the gorgeous Morgana le Fay who is the primary villain to Arthur’s throne and Merlin. She is an absolute force to be reckoned with in this film and she has one of the best performances early on in her career.
Queen Charlotte- The Madness of King George (1994)
Playing the loving with of King George, Mirren was wonderful and pleasant in this comedy film about the king losing his mind. This was the first time Mirren was nominated for an Academy Award. Some might’ve considered it a surprise, but it was long overdue. Mirren plays Charlotte, the current Queen of England who must deal with her husband’s mental instability. Think of this as the OG film before Netflix’s Charlotte series after Bridgerton.
Queen Elizabeth II- The Audience (2013,2015)
If it’s not broke why fix it. Mirren returned to playing Queen Elizabeth II on stage for the play, The Audience. The play centers on weekly meetings, called audiences, between Queen Elizabeth II and all the prime ministers she had during her reign. I need to look up the number, but she had many prime ministers. Mirren won a Tony for her performance in 2015.
Mrs. Wilson- Gosford Park (2001)
In this film with an seemed to hire everyone who was available, the story follows a party of wealthy British and an American producer. During the party like in the game Clue, a murder happens, and the film goes into investigation mode of the servants’ and guests’ perspectives. Mirren plays Mrs. Wilson, one of the servants. Mirren earned a second Oscar nomination. Her final scene will make you stand and applause her performance while making you love this amazing actress.
Jane Tennison- Prime Suspect (1991-2006)
Mirren won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie twice, with four additional nominations for this role. Prime Suspect is a British police procedural series where Mirren plays Jane Tennison, one of the first female Detective Chief Inspectors in Greater London. In the series, she faces sexism within the police force. I was lucky enough to watch one series during my time in London. The show was really good and drew me in as you see a character having to battle against all what you think would happen in a male-dominated profession.
Sofya Tolstoy- The Last Station (2009)
Mirren was awarded her second Best Actress nomination in this historical drama. The film centers around the intense battle between Leo Tolstoy’s wife Sofya and his disciple Vladimir Chertkov for control over Leo’s legacy and copyright of his work. Even though the situation is tough to deal with, Mirren has a way of bringing humor to the situation and her role. You will not be disappointed in watching this film.
Victoria Winslow- RED (2010)
It this action-comedy film that stars some of the greats, it follows Frank Moses, a former black-ops agent who has to get the old band back together to capture an assassin who wants to kill him. Mirren has no qualms of playing in films you don’t think she would be good at. In this one, she is a gun shooting, gorgeous former MI6 agent who runs a bed and breakfast. Mirren is amazing in this film and really fun to watch.
Alma Reville- Hitchcock (2012)
Mirren plays Alma Reville aka Lady Hitchcock in this biographical film about the making of the legendary film, Psycho. Mirren is amazing and received a Golden Globe and SAG nominations for this film. Even though she didn’t receive an Oscar nomination, she should’ve been part of the list. Mirren shows that Alma played a MAJOR part behind the scenes of the making of the film and keeping a watchful eye on her husband. She was considered the peacekeeper and brought a warm elegancy to her character.
Colonel Katherine Powell- Eye in the Sky (2015)
This film is AWESOME and Mirren is amazing in it. What do you think are the decisions to launch a drone strike? That is what comes into question in this film. Mirren plays Colonel Powell, a UK military intelligence officer who starts questioning the mission when a nine-year-old girl enters the kill zone for their strike. Mirren is amazing as she pushes this film with urgency and desperation in her character.
