Anecdotes

Her great-great-great-great-grandfather was field-marshal Kamensky, one of the Russian heroes of the Napoleonic wars.

Has a tattoo of a star on her left hand, acquired at a Native American reservation in Minnesota.

Her paternal grandparents were Russian. Her grandfather, Piotr Vasilievich Mironoff, was a Tsarist aristocrat who was in London negotiating an arms deal during World War I when the 1917 Russian Revolution stranded him there. His wife and son (Helen's father) joined him in London. On her mother's side, she is of English descent.

Lived with Liam Neeson for 4 years after meeting on the set of Excalibur (1981). Subsequently lived for further 4 years with British photographer and fashion designer James Wedge. Mirren first met Wedge when she posed for his cover photo for the July 11, 1971 edition of the "Observer" magazine titled, "Shakespearean Star Helen Mirren Shows How to Dress with Drama". Some of his erotica portraits of her appeared in her 2008 autobiography - "In the Frame: My Life in Words and Pictures".

John Boorman said he cast her opposite Nicol Williamson in Excalibur (1981), against both of their protests, because he felt their dislike of each other made them perfect as rivals Morgana and Merlin.

She was initially hesitant to sign on to Red (2010) due to film's graphic violence, but changed her mind upon learning of Bruce Willis' involvement.

She was awarded the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to drama.

Became the third person, after Sigourney Weaver and Joan Plowright, to win two Golden Globes for acting in the same year. The characters she played were both Queens of England, Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II.

She holds the record for second-largest "Best Actress" award sweep (40 wins) for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen (2006), following Cate Blanchett (41 wins) for her performance as Jasmine French in Blue Jasmine (2013).

At the premiere of The Queen (2006) at the Venice Film Festival, her performance received a 5 minute standing ovation.

Used to work in Southend-on-Sea, Essex at an amusement park "The Kursaal" as a "blagger" to attract customers on to rides.

She is the only actress to play both Queen Elizabeth I (in Elizabeth I (2005)) and Queen Elizabeth II (The Queen (2006)).

Despite her Russian birth name and ancestry, she does not speak Russian, but is fluent in French.

She is quoted as being a naturist, telling the Radio Times "I'm a naturist at heart. I love being on beaches where everyone is naked. Ugly people, beautiful people, old people, whatever. It's so unisexual and so liberating." In 2004, she was named "Naturist of the Year" by British Naturism. She said: "Many thanks to British Naturism for this great honour. I do believe in naturism and am my happiest on a nude beach with people of all ages and races!".

She has a curious fascination with facial scars, particularly on men, finding them quite sexy and mysterious, perhaps indicative of an intriguing chapter in a man's life. She actually sported a facial scar for her role in L'Affaire Rachel Singer (2010).

Met husband-to-be Taylor Hackford when he directed her in Soleil de nuit (1985). When the couple married in the Scottish Highlands, Hackford was dressed in a traditional Scottish tartan kilt.

According to an article in People Weekly (November 3, 1980) her tattoo is an American Indian symbol meaning "equal but opposite".

She allegedly refused the C.B.E. (Commander of Order of the British Empire) in 1996.

She and her husband Taylor Hackford are both Oscar-winners.

Placed her hand and footprint in cement in front of Graumann Chinese theatre on March 28, 2011.

Is one of 13 actresses to have won the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Critics' Choice Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award. The others in chronological order are Julia Roberts for Erin Brockovich, seule contre tous (2000), Renée Zellweger for Retour à Cold Mountain (2003), Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line (2005), Jennifer Hudson for Dreamgirls (2006), Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008), Mo'Nique for Precious (2009), Natalie Portman for Black Swan (2010), Octavia Spencer for La Couleur des sentiments (2011), Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables (2012), Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine (2013), Patricia Arquette for Boyhood (2014) and Julianne Moore for Still Alice (2014).

She was considered for the role of Miranda Priestly in Le diable s'habille en Prada (2006) that went to Meryl Streep.

Won 29 major awards for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen (2006), including all the awards that are considered the biggest (except Cannes). She was also nominated for 3 more awards for the same film.

She dedicated her BAFTA win for The Queen (2006) (for Best Actress in a Leading Role) to Ian Richardson for playing a huge part in her success story. She said (in her acceptance speech) that Richardson was very supportive towards her when she started out acting, and without him she may not have been so successful. She dedicated this award two days after Richardson died. Mirren and Richardson had first appeared together in Le songe d'une nuit d'été (1968), Peter Hall's film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play. (2007)

The longest she has gone without an Oscar nomination is 7 years, between La folie du roi George (1994) and Gosford Park (2001).

Before marrying director Taylor Hackford in 1997, she had lived with him in Los Angeles since 1986.

In preparation for her role as a retired Israeli Mossad agent in L'Affaire Rachel Singer (2010), she reportedly immersed herself in studies of Hebrew language, Jewish history, and Holocaust writing, including the life of Simon Wiesenthal, while in Israel in 2009 for the filming of some of the movie's scenes.

Was in consideration for the part of Sarah/Anna in La maîtresse du lieutenant français (1981) but Meryl Streep, who went on to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance, was cast instead.

Played a Queen a total of six times: The Queen (2006), Elizabeth I (2005), Le Prince d'Égypte (1998), The Snow Queen (1995), La folie du roi George (1994), and Caligula (1979).

After first meeting on the set of Excalibur (1981), Helen and Liam Neeson lived together for 4 years, after which time she met husband-to-be Taylor Hackford when he directed her in Soleil de nuit (1985).

She named Anna Magnani as her acting idol.

Is one of 17 actresses to have won the Triple Crown of Acting (an Oscar, Emmy and Tony); the others in chronological order are Helen Hayes, Ingrid Bergman, Shirley Booth, Liza Minnelli, Rita Moreno, Maureen Stapleton, Jessica Tandy, Audrey Hepburn, Anne Bancroft, Vanessa Redgrave, Maggie Smith, Ellen Burstyn, Frances McDormand, Jessica Lange, Viola Davis and Glenda Jackson.

Was presented the 2,488th Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame accompanied by her husband Taylor Hackford, two stepsons and Phil Spector (2013) director David Mamet (January 3, 2013).

Her first cousin is Tania Mallet who was a James Bond girl in Goldfinger (1964). Her father and Tania's mother are brother and sister. Helen and Tania have enjoyed a warm relationship since childhood. Tania died in 2019, and a grieving Helen provided a loving and public tribute to "People" magazine about how her cousin was "kind and generous" and that she and her sister Kate will "miss her very much".

She owns houses in Los Angeles, London, and the south of France.

In a GQ interview in 2008, Mirren stated she had been date raped as a student and had often taken cocaine at parties in her 20s, and until the 1980s. She stopped using the drug after reading the (since debunked) tabloid tale that Klaus Barbie made a living from cocaine dealing.

She was considered for Ellen Ripley in Alien, le 8ème passager (1979).

Nominated for Best Actress, Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for her performance of "Orpheus Descending" at the Donmar Warehouse. (2001)

First received her Screen Actors Guild (SAG) card when she appeared in 2010 - L'année du premier contact (L'odyssée continue) (1984), her American feature film debut.

She won an Oscar for playing Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen (2006), making her one of 17 actors to win the Award for playing a real person who was still alive at the evening of the Award ceremony (as of 2015). The other sixteen actors and their respective performances are: Spencer Tracy for playing Father Edward Flanagan in Des hommes sont nés (1938), Gary Cooper for playing Alvin C. York in Sergent York (1941), Patty Duke for playing Helen Keller in Miracle en Alabama (1962), Jason Robards for playing Ben Bradlee in Les Hommes du président (1976), Robert De Niro for playing Jake La Motta in Raging Bull (1980), Sissy Spacek for playing Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)_, Jeremy Irons for playing Claus Von Bullow in Le mystère Von Bülow (1990), Susan Sarandon for playing Sister Helen Prejean in La dernière marche (1995), Geoffrey Rush for playing David Helfgott in Shine (1996), Julia Roberts for playing Erin Brockovich in Erin Brockovich, seule contre tous (2000), Jim Broadbent for playing John Bayley in Iris (2001), Sandra Bullock for playing Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side (2009), Melissa Leo for playing Alice Eklund-Ward in Fighter (2010), Christian Bale for playing Dickie Eklund in Fighter (2010), Meryl Streep for playing Margaret Thatcher in La Dame de fer (2011) and Eddie Redmayne for playing Stephen Hawking in Une merveilleuse histoire du temps (2014).

She was awarded the Outer Critics Circle for Outstanding Debut of an Actress for her role in 'A Month in the Country' (1995).

In 2012, Mirren was among the British cultural icons selected by artist Sir Peter Blake to appear in a new version of his most famous artwork - The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover - to celebrate the British cultural figures of his life that he most admires.

Won Olivier's Award as Best Actress, for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in "The Audition" (2013).

In 1990, Mirren stated in an interview that she is an atheist. In the August 2011 issue of Esquire magazine, Mirren said, "I am quite spiritual. I believed in fairies when I was a child. I still do sort of believe in the fairies. And the leprechauns. But I don't believe in God.

Nominated for Best Actress, Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for her performance in "Mourning Becomes Electra" at the Royal National Theatre: Lyttelton Stage. (2004)

Nominated for Best Actress, Tony Award for "Dance of Death" by August Strindberg. (2002)

On 11 May 2010, Mirren attended the unveiling of her waxwork at Madame Tussauds London. The figure reportedly cost £150,000 to make and took four months to complete.

According to the April 2007 issue of Architectural Digest, She and her husband have sold their estate in New Orleans, which still remains her favorite American city.

Nominated for Best Actress, Tony Award for "A Month in the Country" by Ivan Turgenev. (1995)

She succeeded John Gielgud in two roles after the characters' gender was changed: (1) Gielgud played Prospero in a 1957 production of "The Tempest" in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane while Mirren played Prospera in La tempête (2010) (2) Gielgud played Hobson in Arthur (1981) and Arthur 2: Dans la dèche (1988) while Mirren played Lillian Hobson in Arthur, un amour de milliardaire (2011).