Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Helen Mirren

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Helen Mirren made an impact.

Dame Helen Mirren is a highly acclaimed English actor with a career spanning six decades. She has received numerous prestigious awards, including an Academy Award, multiple BAFTA, Emmy, and Golden Globe Awards, as well as Olivier and Tony Awards. Her contributions to the film and theatre industry have been recognized with honors such as the BAFTA Fellowship, the Honorary Golden Bear, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. In 2003, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1923: Portrays Cara Dutton in 1923

Since 2022, she portrays Cara Dutton in the Yellowstone spinoff 1923, which also features Harrison Ford and Timothy Dalton.

1981: Working on Excalibur

While working on Excalibur in 1981, Helen Mirren met and began a relationship with Liam Neeson, and she was instrumental in him getting an agent.

1990: Bethune: The Making of a Hero

In 1990, Helen Mirren worked with Donald Sutherland on "Bethune: The Making of a Hero", before reuniting in 2017 for "The Leisure Seeker".

1994: Played Charlotte in The Madness of King George

In 1994, Helen Mirren portrayed Charlotte in "The Madness of King George".

1999: The Passion of Ayn Rand

In 1999, Helen Mirren portrayed Ayn Rand in the television film "The Passion of Ayn Rand," a performance for which she won an Emmy Award.

2000: Starred in Greenfingers and The Pledge

In 2000, Helen Mirren starred in "Greenfingers" and "The Pledge", and she acted in "No Such Thing".

2001: Starred in Gosford Park

In 2001, Helen Mirren starred in "Gosford Park" with Maggie Smith.

2002: Door to Door

In 2002, Helen Mirren starred in "Door to Door", a television film.

November 2003: Mourning Becomes Electra at the National Theatre

In November 2003, Helen Mirren starred as Christine Mannon in a revival of Eugene O'Neill's "Mourning Becomes Electra" at the National Theatre, directed by Howard Davies, receiving widespread praise.

2003: Starred in Calendar Girls and The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone

In 2003, Helen Mirren starred in "Calendar Girls" and "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone", receiving critical acclaim and award nominations.

2003: Starred in Calendar Girls

In 2003, Helen Mirren starred in "Calendar Girls" with Julie Walters.

2004: Appeared in The Clearing, Pride, and Raising Helen

In 2004, Helen Mirren appeared in "The Clearing", "Pride", and "Raising Helen".

2005: Appeared in Shadowboxer and voiced Deep Thought

In 2005, Helen Mirren appeared in "Shadowboxer" and provided the voice for the supercomputer Deep Thought in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".

2005: Played Queen Elizabeth I

In 2005, Helen Mirren played Queen Elizabeth I in a television serial, earning an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

2006: Played Elizabeth II in The Queen

In 2006, Helen Mirren portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen".

2006: Starred in The Queen

In 2006, Helen Mirren starred in "The Queen", winning an Academy Award for Best Actress.

September 2007: Won an Emmy Award for Prime Suspect: The Final Act

On September 16, 2007, Helen Mirren won another Emmy Award for her role in "Prime Suspect: The Final Act".

July 2009: Phèdre at Epidaurus amphitheatre

In July 2009, Helen Mirren played the title role in Jean Racine's "Phèdre" at the National Theatre, and the production was staged at the Epidaurus amphitheatre on July 11th and 12th, 2009.

2009: Filming The Debt in Israel

In 2009, while filming "The Debt" in Israel, Helen Mirren immersed herself in studies of Hebrew language, Jewish history, and Holocaust writing.

September 2010: Brighton Rock Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival

In September 2010, "Brighton Rock", starring Helen Mirren, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, receiving mixed reviews. Also, her biggest critical and commercial success of the year was Robert Schwentke's ensemble action comedy Red.

2010: Appeared in five films including Love Ranch and The Tempest

In 2010, Helen Mirren appeared in five films, including "Love Ranch", directed by her husband Taylor Hackford, and Julie Taymor's "The Tempest", where she played Prospera.

April 2011: Hosted Saturday Night Live

On April 9, 2011, Helen Mirren hosted Saturday Night Live.

2012: Played Alma Reville in Hitchcock

In 2012, Helen Mirren played Alfred Hitchcock's wife, Alma Reville, in the biopic "Hitchcock". Also in 2012, Helen Mirren starred in The Door.

February 2013: Began turn as Elizabeth II in The Audience

On February 15, 2013, Helen Mirren began her turn as Elizabeth II in the World Premiere of Peter Morgan's "The Audience" at the West End's Gielgud Theatre.

2013: Starred in Phil Spector, Monsters University, and Red 2

In 2013, Helen Mirren replaced Bette Midler in "Phil Spector", voiced Dean Abigail Hardscrabble in Pixar's "Monsters University", and reprised her role in "Red 2".

2014: Starred in The Hundred-Foot Journey

In 2014, Helen Mirren starred in "The Hundred-Foot Journey", receiving positive reviews and a Golden Globe nomination.

June 2015: Won Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play

On June 7, 2015, Helen Mirren won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in "The Audience", completing the US "Triple Crown of Acting".

2015: Starred in Woman in Gold, Eye in the Sky, and Trumbo

In 2015, Helen Mirren starred in "Woman in Gold", "Eye in the Sky", and "Trumbo", earning critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination for "Trumbo".