Helen Mirren (Helen Mirren): biography, filmography and personal life of the actress (photo)

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

English film actress of Russian origin Helen Mirren (full name Lidia Vasilievna Mironova) was born on July 26, 1945 in London. The ancestry of the Mironovs, later Mirren, comes from Pyotr Vasilievich Mironov, a major military engineer who was in London on a long-term basis on behalf of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II. Pyotr Vasilievich was engaged in the purchase of weapons and military ammunition for the Russian army, he is Helen's grandfather in the male line. The father of the actress, Vasily Petrovich Mironov, was born in 1913 in London. Mother, Kathleen Rogers, born in 1909, from a simple English family. The Mironovs did not return to Russia, none of them recognized the revolution of 1917. And after the death of Peter Vasilyevich, the son, Vasily Petrovich, changed the Russian surname Mironov to Mirren, thus taking root in England. Lida Mironova became Helen Mirren, although she does not hide her Russian origin, moreover, she is proud of it. Once the actress joked: "I'm half Russian, I mean my lower half…"

Theatre

Helen Mirren in her youth dreamed of becoming a film actress, after school she entered the London College of Dramatic Art. After graduating, the certified actress began working in the Old Vic Theatre, but soon she became cramped within the academic theater scene, and Helen moved to the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she immediately received full scope for her creative aspirations. The actress worked in the theater until the late 1960s, and then began acting in films.

Movie debut

The film debut of Helen Mirren was the film by Australian director Michael Powell "Adults", based on the novel by Norman Lindsay. The plot revolves around the artist Bradley Morahan, who returned to his home on one of the islands of the Great Barrier Reef. There he meets a girl named Cora, who becomes his muse, model and beloved woman. Cora Ryan played Helen.

First roles

A talented painter again, this time in "The Wild Messiah", directed by Ken Russell, released in 1972. A film about the drama of the 24-year-old artist Henri Gaudier, who died on the fronts of the First World War with the name of his beloved wife Sophie Brzeszka on his lips.

In 1973, the film "Oh, lucky man!", Directed by Lindsay Anderson, was filmed, in which Helen Mirren played the role of Patricia, daughter of the magnate James Burges. The plot revolves around the hapless Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell), an ambitious sales agent who tries to reach the heights of success usingpersonal charm.

Caesonia and Victoria

The 1979 film "Caligula" is an epic film directed by Tinto Brass. And again, Malcolm McDowell, who this time played the role of Caligula. Tiberius was played by Peter O'Toole, and Caligula's fourth wife Caesonia was played by Helen Mirren.

The following year, actress Helen Mirren played Victoria, the wife of Harold Shand, London's underworld boss in The Long Good Friday, directed by John Mackenzie. A motion picture about the endless bloody showdowns of gangster groups, in which the wives of the bandits have to participate indirectly, and sometimes directly. Victoria was no exception, she helps her husband figure out the intricacies of intrigue, the purpose of which is to remove the mafia leader Harold Shand and then destroy him. In a life full of dangers, there is still room for simple human feelings, love and devotion.

Historical roles

The Madness of King George is a 1994 film directed by Nicholas Hytner about life in the court of King George III of England (played by Nigel Hawthorne). Helen Mirren plays Queen Charlotte, the king's faithful wife. And when, at the initiative of the heir to the throne, George Prince of Wales, members of the government decide to remove George III from power, charging him with the loss of the American colonies and the Napoleonic wars ruinous for the country, Queen Charlotte firmly defends her husband.

Mrs Tingle

Helen Mirren starred in Kevin Williamson's Killing Mrs Tingle. Her character, history teacher Eve Tingle, has an unbearable temper, she hates everyone around her and recognizes only her favorite Trudy Tucker, a spoiled girl from a we althy family. A tense situation arises in the college, teachers must decide the issue of the distribution of scholarships. Vice Principal Miss Gold thinks that the top student, Lee Ann Watson, should get the scholarship, not Trudy Tucker, who is advocated by Mrs. Tingle. In the end, Eve Tingle gives Lee Ann an unprecedented low mark in history, thereby depriving her of the formal right to a scholarship. And then the main events take place with the participation of the principal of the college.

"The Queen" and the first "Oscar"

Films with Helen Mirren were not popular until in 2006 at the film studio Miramax Films, a film was made that can rightfully be considered one of the best films of the decade. It's Queen, directed by Stephen Frears and starring Helen Mirren. The plot revolves around the death of Princess Diana in a car accident on August 31, 1997, and the changes at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle that followed this tragic event.

Elizabeth II, overwhelmed by grief, withdraws from all activities related to the organization of the funeral of Diana. The Queen leaves to hunt, on the first day with her son, Prince Charles, and the next day goes hunting alone. All thisAt the same time, Prime Minister Tony Blair is in Buckingham Palace, who is trying to determine the rules for farewell to the deceased princess, as well as the format of her funeral. The Queen from the very beginning spoke in favor of the funeral being closed, but Blair insists on a public funeral, citing the opinion of the people. In addition, Elizabeth II refused to lower the royal standard on the facade of the residence, explaining her decision by the fact that in cases of mourning, the state flag is flown at half mast, but not the heraldic signs of the monarchs.

For the film "The Queen" Helen Mirren received three top awards at once, the Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe awards. Elizabeth Helen Mirren is the best performance of a historical role.

Leo Tolstoy

Next Helen Mirren starred in the film "Last Sunday" about the reincarnation of the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. The picture was released on the screen in 2009 and was presented to the Russian audience through the production center of Andrei Konchalovsky. The feature-length, nearly two-hour biopic was directed by Michael Hoffman. The plot of the film reflects the dramatic changes in the worldview of Leo Tolstoy, who immediately renounced the title of nobility, worldly comforts, family, adopted vegetarianism and began to preach chastity and asceticism. Countess Sophia, the writer's wife, devoted to him to the grave, cannot accept the loss of life's guidelines.

In 2010, the political detective "Payback" was released, filmed by director John Madden, withHelen Mirren in the title role. The actress played Rachel Singer, a retired former Israeli intelligence agent Mossad. The image of Rachel in her youth was embodied by actress Jessica Chastain. The plot of the film reveals the events of 1965, when three Mossad agents kidnapped an alleged Nazi criminal hiding in the GDR and destroyed him. Later, this Nazi showed up in Ukraine and thus it became clear that a fatal mistake had occurred that needed to be sorted out. Rachel Singer takes on the investigation.

Filmography

Helen Mirren, whose filmography contains about 50 pictures, hopes to replenish her collection of movie characters in the future.

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  Year 1969 "Adults" directed by Michael Powell (Cora Ryan).

• Year 1972 - "The Wild Messiah", directed by Ken Russell (Sophie Brzeszka).
• Year 1973 - "Oh Lucky Man!" Directed by Lindsay Anderson (Patricia).
• Year 1978 - As You Like It directed by Kenneth Branagh (Rosalind).
• Year 1979 - "Caligula", directed by Tinto Brass (Caesonia).
• Year 1980 - "The Long Good Friday", directed by John Mackenzie (Victoria).
• Year 1981 - "Excalibur", directed by John Boorman (Morgana).
• Year 1984 - "Making Contact" directed by Peter Hyams (Tanya Kirbuk).
• Year 1984 - "Diary of a Terrorist" directed by Pat Connor (Marcella).
• Year 1985 - "White Nights" directed by Taylor Hackford(Galina Ivanova).
• Year 1986 - "Mosquito Coast" directed by Paul Theroux (Mother Fox).
• Year 1989 - "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover", directed by Peter Greenaway (Georgina).
• Year 1990 - "Solace of Strangers" directed by Paul Schroeder (Caroline).
• Year 1991 - "Where even angels fear to appear", directed by Charles Sturridge (Lily Herriton).
• Year 1994 - "The Prince of Jutland", directed by Gabriel Axel (Gerrud).
• Year 1996 - "Sons" directed by Terry George (Kathleen Quigley).
• Year 1999 - "Killing Mrs. Tingle", directed by Kevin Williamson (Eve Tingle).
• Year 2001 - "Gosford Park" directed by Robert Altman (Mrs. Wilson).
• Year 2003 - Mrs. Stone's Roman Spring directed by Jose Quitero (Karen Stone).
• Year 2004 - "Pride", directed by John Downer (Machiba).
• Year 2005 - "Elizabeth I", directed by Tom Hooper (Elizabeth).
• Year 2006 - "The Queen", directed by Stephen Frears (Elizabeth II).
• Year 2007 - "National Treasure" directed by John Turteltaub (Emily Gates).
• Year 2008 - "Inkheart", directed by Ian Softley (Eleanor).
• Year 2010 - "RED", directed by Robert Schwentke (Victoria).
• Year 2011 - "The Perfect Millionaire", directed by Jason Weiner (Lillian Hobson).
• Year 2012 - "Hitchcock" directed by Sacha Gervasi (Alma Reville).
• Year 2013 - "Phil Spector" directed by David Mamet (Linda Kenny).

Films with Helen Mirren do not leave the screens of cinemas around the world. Currently, the actress is filming a little, the roles that she is offered are mostly episodic or secondary. The characters of old ladies do not attract the young soul and body of Helen, and she prefers to spend time in the library or in nature.

Private life

The personal life of Helen Mirren, whose photo is on the covers of almost all glossy magazines, is still not very diverse. Since 1980, the actress has dated director Taylor Hackford. In 1997, the actual spouses of Hackford-Mirren registered their marriage.