Helen Mirren

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Date of Birth : Jul 26th 1945

Commanding British actress who has proven her versatility and range in a series of consistently challenging parts. She began her career on stage with Britain’s National Youth Theatre and later, the Royal Shakespeare Company, winning acclaim for performances in plays like “Troilus and Cressida” and “Hamlet.” She made her film debut as Hermia in Peter Hall’s version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1968), and alternated between theater and movies from then on, costarring in Age of Consent (1969), Savage Messiah (1972), O Lucky Man! (1973), Hussy and Caligula (both 1980) before eliciting raves for her turn as gangster Bob Hoskins’ mistress in The Long Good Friday (1981).

She starred in The Comfort of Strangers (1991), the adaptation of Where Angels Fear to Tread (also 1991, as Lilia), Dr. Bethune, The Hawk (both 1993), and most notably, as “Mrs. King” in The Madness of King George (1994), for which she received a Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. She also starred as a tough police inspector in the acclaimed British TV miniseries “Prime Suspect” (1992).

Many actresses are described as “fearless,” but the word really applies to Mirren, who can-and will-do anything that befits her character-and who is drawn to unusual, provocative parts. She has lived for many years with producer/director Taylor Hackford.