Dame Helen Mirren is today’s Buzzfocus Woman of the Day.
Born July, 26 1945 in Chiswick, London, England, Helen was born Illiana Lydia Vasilievna Mironova. Mirren got her start in acting while performing on stage at St. Bernard’s High School for Girls in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, which she also attended. Later, Mirren earned her first starring role in Cleopatra for the National Youth Theatre in 1965. She is the only actress to play both Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen. She attributes her success to her work in theatre. Helen describes herself as “being famous for being cool about not being gorgeous.”
Mirren’s role as detective Jane Tennison, on “Prime Suspect,” won her three consecutive BAFTA awards for Best Actress between 1992 to 1994. She recently won the Academy Award for best actress for her role in The Queen. The irony of this award is that Dame once said the Academy Awards was “the creme-de-la-creme of bulls**t.”
Dame Helen Mirren joins the ranks of legendary women actresses who got their start in the UK theatre. Kudos to Ms. Mirren for a lifetime of excellent work and continuing contributions to the field of acting and performance.
