Helen Mirren: The Cinematic Queen of Our Time

For countless admirers of the renowned British actress, the past year has been marked by two remarkable performances on both the television and cinema screens: her portrayal of Catherine the Great in the eponymous TV series and her role as a wealthy widow in the film “The Good Liar.”

Early Life and Career

Born as Elena Lydia Vasilievna Mironova in a London suburb in the year World War II ended, Helen Mirren hails from a family with a Russian taxi driver father and an English working-class mother. Her grandfather, a Russian monarchist who refused to return to Russia after the October Revolution, passed down the family name, which her father later anglicized to Mirren in the early 1950s. Despite the unusual circumstances of her upbringing, Mirren fondly recalls, “I grew up with the feeling of being different. There was something strange in me and my family. I think that strangeness was the Russian part of me.”

Helen Mirren knew she would become an actress at the tender age of 13. Her first role was as the son of a sorceress in a school play based on Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” Although her parents did not take her aspirations seriously, she persevered and eventually became one of the most decorated British actresses of her time. With her confidence, intelligence, and undeniable sex appeal, Mirren gained fame both on stage and screen. Her scandalous scenes in the film “Caligula,” where she played the fourth wife of the Roman emperor, did not hinder her from later portraying English queens Elizabeth I and Elizabeth II. Perhaps this is because she was drawn to directors with a philosophical bent, such as Peter Greenaway, who cast her in his cult film “The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover.” Film critics even dubbed her a “sex symbol for intellectuals.” Before making her mark in film and television, Mirren performed in various productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company, including a memorable turn as Lady Macbeth.

Rise to Fame

Her breakthrough on screen came with the role of a police inspector battling sexism, which she first played in 1990 in the TV series “Prime Suspect.” Mirren reprised this role several times over the years. The year 2006 was particularly successful for her, as the Russian-born English actress received several prestigious awards, including an Oscar for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in “The Queen.” Three years prior, she had the opportunity to meet the Queen in person, as Elizabeth II bestowed upon her a title equivalent to knighthood—Dame of the Order of the British Empire. At 74, she truly embodies the essence of a lady—thanks to her intelligence, refined taste, and impeccable posture, Helen Mirren has gained worldwide popularity and continues to maintain her status as an actress of the highest caliber. Despite the presence of many talented actresses half her age, she rightfully enjoys the attention of numerous admirers from the new generation. Not being a proponent of plastic surgery, Helen Mirren is a shining example of aging with dignity, without losing her femininity and identity.

On Acting and Deception

In the film “The Good Liar,” Mirren plays a wealthy widow who meets an experienced con artist on a dating site, played by Ian McKellen, who swindles money from naive people. When asked if she had encountered such people in her life, Mirren shared:

“Recently, I read in a British newspaper about an elderly woman who gave a man she was dating £10,000, and he disappeared without a trace. The worst part is that somehow other people contacted her, promising to find the fraudster and return the money, but asked for another £5,000—and she gave it to them! This is not fiction; people are capable of making huge mistakes. I knew one such swindler, and I can assure you he had incredible charisma. He looked you straight in the eye, held your hand, and said, ‘I’ll take care of your money, trust me. There are many people in the world ready to deceive and rob you blind. But I’m not like that. I’m the one you can fully trust.’ And at that very moment, he would strip you bare. He didn’t care if you were sick or lonely, or if you saved that money for your grandchildren’s education—he wouldn’t bat an eye. The man I’m talking about ended his life in prison. But he was indeed incredibly charming, well-read, polite, and cultured. Just without a single drop of conscience.”

When asked if such people are great actors, Mirren responded:

“Acting has nothing to do with deception! On the contrary, acting is about opening people’s eyes to what is happening around us, showing human nature in particular and the world in general. For example, as Shakespeare did in his plays. Actors, in my view, are akin to other artists, such as Van Gogh painting his sunflowers or Mozart composing his arias. It has nothing to do with pulling the wool over someone’s eyes. On the contrary, art reveals the essence of the world. Of course, this happens not literally, but artistically. You need to have an imagination to make people believe in what is happening on stage, but not to deceive them, as swindlers, spies, and liars do.”

On White Lies and Aging Gracefully

When asked about her stance on white lies, Mirren said:

“I consider white lies quite useful. They seem to me like the oil that helps the gears of our society turn. Frankly, I don’t particularly like harsh truths. In many cases, they are unnecessary. If I tell someone the truth, what’s the point? I will feel bad, and the other person will feel bad… Who benefits from that? Our world already has enough difficulties and sorrows. So why add more and tell someone that, for example, their haircut is terrible? Or why did they buy those awful shoes? Or those garish wallpapers in the house, whose crazy idea was that? No, I’m the kind of person who, when visiting someone’s home, would rather praise it than criticize. I think it’s very important to help people feel good about themselves.”

When asked about her secret to looking good, Mirren shared:

“I don’t have any special secret. Of course, I watch what I eat, sometimes even fasting for a few days. But I’m not obsessed with healthy eating and don’t quite understand what self-control is. As for physical exercise, I rarely go to the gym. Sometimes, I get the urge to exercise, but it usually doesn’t last long. However, I always try to do the exercises for the Canadian Air Force. If you’re interested, you can look it up online. This program, developed in the 1950s, takes only 12 minutes and consists of five simple exercises that require no equipment. Very convenient. I recommend it to everyone.”

Mirren’s outfits, both in life and on screen, are also worthy of praise. When asked about the importance of costumes for her artistic transformation, she emphasized their significance in helping her embody her characters.

For more information on Helen Mirren’s illustrious career, you can visit her IMDb page.