Everyone's (not so) secret crush

 

(Originally published Oct 1, 2011)

 

 

Everyone loves Helen Mirren, right?  How can you not fall in love with her million dollar smile (which has a trusting quality, but a little fun smirk to it)?  She carries such a grace and elegance with every role she plays that I’m always awestruck at how awesome she truly is.

The iconic film star (courtesy of Getty Images)

And she knows her way around balistic firearms.

Whether she plays the queen (or several queens for that matter) or Nick Cage’s mother… she’s usually the incentive for watching any film in which she appears.  I mean she’s just awesome, right?!

And just to impress you, please see her extensive series of roles below for film, theatre, and television (as of the above date):


Film (Date) Role
The Debt (tbr) Rachel Singer
The Door (tbr) Emerson
Arthur (2011) Hobson
Brighton Rock (2011) Ida
RED (2010) Victoria
The Tempest (2010) Prospera
Love Ranch (2010) Grace Bontempo
The Last Station (2009) Sofya Tolstoy
State of Play (2008) Cameron Lynne
Inkheart (2007) Elinor Loredan
National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007) Emily Appleton
The Queen (2005) Elizabeth II
Shadowboxer (2005) Rose
The Clearing (2004) Eileen Hayes
Raising Helen (2004) Dominique
Calendar Girls (2002) Chrissie
Gosford Park (2001) Mrs. Wilson
Last Orders (2001) Amy Dodds
The Pledge (2001) Doctor
Monster aka No Such Thing (2001) The Boss
Greenfingers (2001) Georgina Woodhouse
Teaching Mrs Tingle (1999) Mrs Tingle
Some Mother’s Son (1996) Kathleen Quigley
The Madness of King George (1994) Queen Charlotte
The Prince of Jutland (1994) Getruth
The Hawk (1993) Anne Marsh
Where Angels Fear to Tread (1991) Lilia Herriton
The Comfort of Strangers (1990) Caroline
Bethune, Making of a Hero (1990) Francis Penny Bethune
The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989) Georgina Spica
Pascali's Island (1989) Lydia Neuman
When The Whales Came (1988) Clemmie Jenkins
Mosquito Coast (1986) Mother Fox
Heavenly Pursuits (1985) Ruth Chancellor
White Knights (1985) Galina Ivanova
2010 (1984) Tanya Kirbuk
CAL (1984) Marcella
Excalibur (1981) Morgana
The Fiendish Plot of Dr Fu Man Chu (1980) Alice Rage
The Long Good Friday (1980) Victoria
Hussy (1980) Beaty
Caligula (1979) Caesonia
O Lucky Man (1973) Patricia
Savage Messiah (1972) Gosh Boyle
Age of Consent (1969) Cora Ryan

 

Play (Date) Role, Theatre
Phedre (2009) Phedre, National Theatre
Mourning Becomes Electra (2003) Christine, National Theatre
Dance of Death (2001) Alice, Broadway
Orpheus Descending (2000) Lady, Donmar Warehouse
Collected Stories (1999) Ruth Steiner, Haymarket Theatre
Anthony and Cleopatra (1998) Cleopatra, National Theatre
A Month in the Country (1994) Natalya Petrovna, Roundabout Theatre, NY
A Month in the Country (1994) Natalya Petrovna, Albery Theatre
Sex Please We’re Italian (1991) The Young Vic
Two-Way Mirror (1989) Angela, The Young Vic
Madame Bovary (1987) Madame Bovary, Watford Palace
The Roaring Girl (1984) Moll Cutpurse, Barbican Theatre
Extremities (1984) Marjorie, Duchess Theatre
Anthony and Cleopatra (1982) Cleopatra, RSC
Faith Healer (1981) Gracie, Royal Court/The Roundhouse
The Duchess of Malfi (1980) Title role, Royal Exchange
Measure for Measure (1979) Isabella, Riverside
Henry VI (1977) Margaret, RSC
The Seagull (1975) Nina, Lyric Theatre / Lindsay
The Bed Before Yesterday (1975) Ella, Anderson Company
Teeth 'n' Smiles (1975) Maggie, Royal Court & Wyndhams
Macbeth (1974) Lady Macbeth, RSC
Man of Mode (1971) Harriet, RSC
The Balcony (1971) Elayne, RSC
Enemies (1971) Tatyana, RSC
Hamlet (1970) Ophelia, RSC
Two Gentlemen of Verona (1970) Julia, RSC
Richard III (1970) Lady Anne, RSC
Bartholomew Fair (1969) Mrs Littlewit, RSC
The Revenger’s Tragedy (1969) Castiza, RSC
Troilus & Cressida (1968) Cressida, RSC
Much Ado About Nothing (1968) Hero, RSC
All’s Well That Ends Well (1967) Diana, RSC
Anthony and Cleopatra (1965) Cleopatra, National Youth Theatre

 

TV (Date) Role
Prime Suspect VII (2006) Jane Tennison
Elizabeth I (2005) Elizabeth I
Prime Suspect VI (2003) Jane Tennison
The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone (2002) Karen Stone
Door to Door (2002) Mrs. Porter
Georgetown (2002) Annabelle Garrison
The Passion of Ayn Rand (1999) Ayn Rand
Painted Lady (1997) Maggie Sheridan
Losing Chase (1996) Chase
Prime Suspect V (1996) DCI Jane Tennison
Prime Suspect IV (1995) DCI Jane Tennison
Prime Suspect III (1993) DCI Jane Tennison
The Hidden Room (1993) Sarah
Prime Suspect II (1992) DCI Jane Tennison
Prime Suspect (1990) DCI Jane Tennison
Red King, White Knight (1989) Anna
Cause Celebre (1987) Alma Rattenbury
Coming Through (1985) Frieda von Richtofen Weekley
Cymbeline (1982) Imogen
Mrs Reinhart (1981) Mrs Reinhart
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1981) Titania
The Quiz Kid (1979) Joanne
Oresteia (1979) Cassandra
Blue Remembered Hills (1979) Angela
As You Like It (1978) Rosalind
The Country Wife (1977) Margery Pinchwife
The Collection (1976) Stella
Caesar And Claretta (1975) Claretta Petacci
The Philanthropist (1975) Celia
The Apple Cart (1975) Orinthia
Bellamire (1974) Bellamira
The Changeling (1974) Beatrice-Joanna
Little Minister (1975) Babbie
Jackanory (1974)
Coffin For The Bride (1974) Stella McKenzie
Miss Julie (1973) Miss Julie
Cousin Bette (1972) Valerie
Behind The Scenes (1972)