Helen Mirren Biography (1945?-)

Original name, Ilynea Lydia Mironoff; born July 25, 1945 (some sources say 1946), in London, England; daughter of Basil Mirren (a viola player and cab driver); married Taylor Hackford (a film director), December 31, 1997; stepchildren: Rio, Alexander. Addresses: Agent: Creative Artists Agency, 9830 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Publicist: PMK/HBH, 700 San VicenteBlvd., Suite G910, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

Nationality
British
Gender
Female
Occupation
Actress, director, producer
Birth Details
July 25, 1945?
London, United Kingdom

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Stage Appearances
  • Cleopatra, Anthony and Cleopatra, Old Vic Theatre, London, 1965
  • Kitty, Charley's Aunt, Manchester Theatre, Manchester, England, 1967
  • Nerissa, The Merchant of Venice, Manchester Theatre, 1967
  • Castiza, The Revenger's Tragedy, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, 1967
  • Diana, All's Well That Ends Well, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, 1967
  • Cressida, Troilus and Cressida, Royal Shakespeare Company, AldwychTheatre, London, 1968
  • Hero, Much Ado about Nothing, Aldwych Theatre, 1968-1969
  • Win-the-Fight Littlewit, Bartholomew Fair, Aldwych Theatre, 1969
  • Lady Anne, Richard III, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, 1970
  • Ophelia, Hamlet, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, 1970
  • Julia, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, 1970
  • Tatyana, Enemies, Royal Shakespeare Company, Aldwych Theatre, 1971
  • Harriet, The Man of Mode, Royal Shakespeare Company, Aldwych Theatre, 1971
  • Title role, Miss Julie, Royal Shakespeare Company, Aldwych Theatre, 1971
  • Elayne, The Balcony, Royal Shakespeare Company, Aldwych Theatre, 1971
  • Isabella, Measure for Measure, Riverside Studios Theatre, London,1974
  • Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, 1974, then Aldwych Theatre, 1975
  • Maggie, Teeth 'n' Smiles, Royal Court Theatre, London, 1975, thenWyndham's Theatre, London, 1976
  • Nina, The Seagull, Lyric Theatre, London, 1975
  • Ella, The Bed before Yesterday, Lyric Theatre, 1975
  • Queen Margaret, Henry VI, Parts I, II and III, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, 1977, then Aldwych Theatre, 1978
  • Title role, The Duchess of Malfi, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, England, 1980, then Mound House Theatre, London, 1981
  • Grace, Faith Healer, Royal Court Theatre, 1981
  • Cleopatra, Antony and Cleopatra, Pit Theatre, London, 1983
  • Moll Cutpurse, The Roaring Girl, Barbican Theatre, London, 1983
  • Marjorie, Extremities, Duchess Theatre, London, 1984
  • Madame Bovary, 1987
  • Angela, "Some Kind of Love Story," and dying woman, "Elegy for a Lady," in Two-Way Mirror (double-bill), Young Vic Theatre, London, 1989
  • Sex Please We're Italian, 1991
  • Natalya Petrovna, A Month in the Country, London, 1994, then Criterion Theatre, New York City, 1995
  • Antony and Cleopatra, Royal National Theatre, London, 1998
  • Collected Stories, London, 1999
  • Lady Torrance, Orpheus Descending, Donmar Warehouse, London, 2000
  • Alice, Dance of Death, Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 2001-2002
  • Mourning Becomes Electra, Lyttelton Stage, Royal National Theatre,2003
  • Also appeared as Susie Monmican, The Silver Lassie; in Woman inMind, Los Angeles.
  • Film Appearances
  • Herostradus, BBC, 1967
  • Hermia, A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1969
  • Cora Ryan, Age of Consent, Columbia, 1969
  • Colpo rovente, 1969
  • Gosh Smith-Boyle, Savage Messiah, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1972
  • Title role, Miss Julie, 1972
  • Patricia Burgess, O Lucky Man!, Warner Bros., 1973
  • Gertrude and Ophelia, Hamlet, Royal College of Art, 1976
  • Caesonia, Caligula (also known as Caligula, My Son and Io, Caligola), Penthouse Films, 1979
  • Victoria, The Long Good Friday, Embassy, 1979
  • Beaty Simons, Hussy, 1979
  • Joanne, The Quiz Kid, 1979
  • Alice Rage, The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu, Orion, 1980
  • Morgana, Excalibur, Warner Bros., 1981
  • Herself, A Documentary on the Making of "Gore Vidal's Caligula" (documentary), 1981
  • Marcella Morton, Cal, Warner Bros., 1984
  • Tanya Kirbuk, 2010 (also known as 2010: The Year We Make Contact), United Artists, 1984
  • (Uncredited) Herself, 2010: The Odyssey Continues, 1984
  • Galina Ivanova, White Nights, Columbia, 1985
  • Freida von Richtofen Weekley, Coming Through, 1985
  • Mother Fox, The Mosquito Coast, Warner Bros., 1986
  • Ruth Chancellor, The Gospel According to Vic (also known as Heavenly Pursuits), Skouras, 1986
  • Narrator, Invocation: Maya Deren (documentary), Arts Council of Great Britain, 1987
  • Narrator, People of the Forest: The Chimps of Gombe (documentary),National Geographic Society, 1988
  • Lydia Neuman, Pascali's Island (also known as L'isola di Pascali), Avenue, 1988
  • Clemmie Jenkins, When the Whales Came, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1989
  • Frances Penny Bethune, Bethune: The Making of a Hero (also known as The Making of a Hero: The Story of Dr. Norman Bethune and Dr. Bethune), Filmstar, 1990
  • Georgina Spica, the wife, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (also known as The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover and Le cuisinier, le voleur, sa femme et son amant), Miramax, 1990
  • Caroline, The Comfort of Strangers (also known as Cortesie pergli ospiti), Skouras, 1990
  • Lilia Herriton, Where Angels Fear to Tread, Fine Line, 1991
  • The Gift, 1991
  • Annie Marsh, The Hawk, Castle Hill, 1993
  • Queen Charlotte, The Madness of King George (also known as TheMadness of King George III and The Madness of George III), SamuelGoldwyn Co., 1994
  • Queen Geruth, The Prince of Jutland (also known as Amled: Prince of Jutland, Amled, Prinsen af Jylland, and Prince of Denmark), Miramax, 1994
  • Kathleen Quigley, Some Mother's Son (also known as Sons and Warriors and Somebody's Son), Castle Rock, 1996
  • Stella, Critical Care, Live Entertainment, 1997
  • Voice of the Queen, Prince of Egypt (animated), DreamWorks, 1998
  • Herself, Sidoglio Smithee, 1998
  • Title role, Teaching Mrs. Tingle, Dimension Films/Miramax, 1999
  • Georgina Woodhouse, Greenfingers (also known as Jailbuds),Samuel Goldwyn Films, 2000
  • Doctor, The Pledge, Warner Bros., 2001
  • The boss, No Such Thing, United Artists, 2001
  • Amy Dodds, Last Orders (also known as Letzte Runde), Sony Pictures Classics, 2001
  • Jane Wilson, Gosford Park, USA Films, 2001
  • Chris, Calendar Girls, Buena Vista, 2003
  • Eileen Hayes, The Clearing, Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2004
  • Dominique, Raising Helen, Buena Vista, 2004
  • Rose, Shadowboxer, 2005
  • Film Work
  • Associate producer, Some Mother's Son (also known as Sons and Warriors and Somebody's Son), Castle Rock, 1996
  • Television Appearances
  • Miniseries
  • Valerie, Cousin Bette, PBS, 1971
  • Cassandra, Oresteia (also known as The Serpent Son), 1979
  • Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, "Prime Suspect I," Mystery!, PBS, 1992
  • Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, "Prime Suspect II," Mystery!, PBS, 1993
  • Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, "Prime Suspect III," Mystery!, PBS, 1993
  • Herself, Hollywood Women (documentary), 1994
  • Voice of Margaret Rhonnda/Princess Evelyn Blucher, The Great War and the Shaping of the Twentieth Century (documentary), PBS, 1996
  • Superintendent Jane Tennison, Prime Suspect V: Errors of Judgment(also known as Mobil Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, 1997
  • Maggie Sheridan, Painted Lady, PBS, 1997
  • Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison, Prime Suspect 6 (also known as Prime Suspect the Last Witness and ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre: Prime Suspect 6), PBS, 2003
  • Movies
  • Stella MacKenzie, Kiss Kiss, Kill Kill (also known as A Coffinfor the Bride and Thriller: Coffin for the Bride), ABC, 1974
  • Claretta Petacci, Caesar and Claretta (also known as Private Affairs: Caesar and Claretta), 1975
  • The Philanthropist, 1975
  • Stella, The Collection (also known as Laurence Olivier Presents: The Collection), 1976
  • Behind the Scene, 1978
  • Rosalind, As You Like It (also known as The Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: As You Like It), 1978
  • Stewardess May Sloan, S.O.S. Titanic, ABC, 1979
  • Titania, A Midsummer Night's Dream (also known as The CompleteDramatic Works of William Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night's Dream), 1981
  • Title role, Mrs. Reinhardt, 1981
  • Imogen, Cymbeline (also known as The Complete Dramatic Works ofWilliam Shakespeare: Cymbeline), 1982
  • Anna, Red King, White Night, HBO, 1989
  • Superintendent Jane Tennison, Prime Suspect: The Lost Child (alsoknown as Prime Suspect IV and Mobil Masterpiece Theatre), PBS,1995
  • Superintendent Jane Tennison, Prime Suspect: Inner Circles (also known as Prime Suspect IV and Mobil Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, 1995
  • Superintendent Jane Tennison, Prime Suspect: The Scent of Darkness(also known as Prime Suspect IV and Mobil Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, 1995
  • Chase Phillips (title role), Losing Chase, Showtime, 1996
  • Title role, The Passion of Ayn Rand, Showtime, 1999
  • Distinguished woman, "Happy Birthday," On the Edge, Showtime, 2001
  • Mrs. Porter, Door to Door, TNT, 2002
  • Karen Stone, The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (also known as Tennessee Williams' The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone), Showtime, 2003
  • Voice of Macheeba, Pride, Arts and Entertainment, 2004
  • Also appeared in After the Party; The Serpent Son; Jackanory.
  • Pilots
  • Annabelle Garrison, Georgetown, CBS, 2002
  • Specials
  • Herself, An Audience with Mel Brooks (documentary), 1983
  • The Siskel and Ebert Special, CBS, 1990
  • D-Day Remembered: A Musical Tribute from the QE2, PBS, 1994
  • Inside the Academy Awards, TNT, 1995
  • Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond, UPN, 1996
  • The 19th Annual CableACE Awards, 1997
  • The 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 1997
  • (In archive footage) Jane Tennison, The 100 Greatest TV Characters, Channel 4, 2001
  • Herself, The Making of "Gosford Park" (documentary), BBC, 2001
  • Martha Stewart's Home for the Holidays, CBS, 2001
  • The 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 2003
  • (In archive footage) Celebrity Naked Ambition (documentary), Channel 5, 2003
  • (In archive footage) Detective Chief Inspector Jan Tennison, Total Cops, 2003
  • Narrator, Cary Grant: A Class Apart (documentary), TCM, 2004
  • Presenter, The 58th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 2004
  • Episodic
  • Beatrice-Joanna, "The Changeling," Play of the Month, 1974
  • Orinthia, "The Applecart," Play of the Month, 1975
  • Babbie, "The Little Minister," Play of the Month, 1975
  • Mrs. Pinchwife, "The Country Wife," Play of the Month, 1977
  • Angela, "Blue Remembered Hills," Play for Today, 1979
  • Celia, "Soft Targets," Play for Today, 1982
  • Betty, "Dead Woman's Shoes," The Twilight Zone, 1985
  • Princess Emilia, "The Little Mermaid," Faerie Tale Theatre, Showtime, 1987
  • Alma Rattenbury, "Cause Celebre," Mystery!, PBS, 1988
  • "Love Crimes," The Hidden Room, 1993
  • Herself, Clive Anderson Talks Back, 1993
  • Voice of herself, "How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World," Reading Rainbow, 1995
  • Herself, "Baywatch," French and Saunders, 1996
  • TFI Friday, 1996
  • Professor Horen, "Culture," Tracey Takes On ... , 1998
  • "Witless Silence," French and Saunders, BBC, 1999
  • Late Show with David Letterman, CBS, 1999
  • Herself, "Robert Altman in England," Omnibus, BBC, 2002
  • The View, ABC, 2002, 2003, 2004
  • Herself, Parkinson, BBC, 2003
  • Herself, The Frank Skinner Show, ITV, 2003
  • Herself, Go' morgen Danmark, 2004
  • Voice of Babette the caller, "Coots and Ladders," Frasier, NBC, 2004
  • Television Associate Producer
  • Miniseries
  • Painted Lady, 1997
  • Television Director
  • Movies
  • "Happy Birthday," On the Edge, Showtime, 2001

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 3: Actors and Actresses, 4th edition, St. James Press, 2000
    • Rennert, Amy, ed., Helen Mirren: Prime Suspect--A Celebration, 1995
    Periodicals
    • Entertainment Weekly, April 23, 2004, p. 70
    • Harper's Bazaar, February, 1993, p. 66
    • Maclean's, January 20, 1997, p. 70
    • New Orleans Magazine, April, 1994, p. 83
    • People Weekly, November 3, 1980, p. 99; February 15, 1993, p. 14;November 3, 1997, p. 153; January 19, 1998, p. 102
    • US, May, 1996, p. 76
    • U.S. News & World Report, April 19, 2004, p. 18
    • Variety, August 29, 1984, p. 6