History of Helen Mirren in Timeline

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.

1938: Graham Greene's novel Brighton Rock

In 1938, Graham Greene wrote the novel "Brighton Rock," upon which the film starring Helen Mirren in 2010 was loosely based.

1950: The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone novel

In 1950, Tennessee Williams published the novel "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone", on which a later film starring Helen Mirren was based.

1964: Alleged Treatment by Michael Winner at Casting Call

In 1964, Helen Mirren alleges that director Michael Winner treated her "like a piece of meat" at a casting call.

1969: Portrays Golda Meir, prime minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974

From 1969 to 1974, Golda Meir served as the prime minister of Israel. Helen Mirren portrayed Golda Meir in a 2023 biopic entitled Golda.

1974: Portrays Golda Meir, prime minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974

From 1969 to 1974, Golda Meir served as the prime minister of Israel. Helen Mirren portrayed Golda Meir in a 2023 biopic entitled Golda.

1981: Original Arthur Film

In 1981, the original film "Arthur" was released, of which Helen Mirren starred in a remake of it in 2010.

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.

1985: Meeting Taylor Hackford

In 1985, Helen Mirren met Taylor Hackford on the set of "White Nights".

1986: Dating Taylor Hackford

In 1986, Helen Mirren began dating American director Taylor Hackford.

1990: Declared Atheist

In 1990, Helen Mirren stated in an interview that she was an atheist.

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".

December 1997: Marriage to Taylor Hackford

On December 31, 1997, Helen Mirren married Taylor Hackford at the Ardersier Parish Church near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.

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.

2003: Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire

In 2003, Helen Mirren was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to drama.

2003: Death of Lana Clarkson

In 2003, Lana Clarkson died in Phil Spector's California mansion, an event which later became the focus of the film "Phil Spector" starring Helen Mirren in 2013.

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

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

2004: Naturist of the Year

In 2004, Helen Mirren was named Naturist of the Year by British Naturism.

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: TV's 50 Greatest Stars

For playing Jane Tennison in ITV's Prime Suspect, in 2006, the British public ranked Helen Mirren number 29 in ITV's poll of TV's 50 Greatest Stars.

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.

2006: Political Affiliation

In 2006, Helen Mirren stated that she was never a member of any political party.

September 2007: Publication of Autobiography

In September 2007, Helen Mirren's autobiography, "In the Frame: My Life in Words and Pictures", was published in the UK.

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".

2007: Claimed Michael Winner treated her like a piece of meat

In 2007, Helen Mirren publicly claimed that director Michael Winner had treated her "like a piece of meat" at a casting call in 1964, leading to a response from Winner.

2007: Original Israeli film The Debt

In 2007, the original Israeli film "The Debt" was released, which was later remade with Helen Mirren.

2008: Past Experiences

In a 2008 interview with GQ, Helen Mirren revealed she was date raped as a student and had used cocaine at parties until the 1980s, stopping after learning Klaus Barbie profited from dealing it.

January 2009: Top 10 British Actresses

In January 2009, Helen Mirren was named on The Times' list of the top 10 British actresses of all time.

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.

May 2010: Waxwork Unveiling

On May 11, 2010, Helen Mirren attended the unveiling of her waxwork at Madame Tussauds in London.

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.

2010: Publication of The Hundred-Foot Journey novel

In 2010, Richard C. Morais's novel "The Hundred-Foot Journey" was published, which served as the basis for the 2014 film starring Helen Mirren.

April 2011: Hosted Saturday Night Live

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

August 2011: Spiritual Beliefs

In August 2011, Helen Mirren discussed her spiritual beliefs, expressing a belief in fairies and leprechauns but not in God.

2011: Sexiest Woman Alive

In 2010, she was named Sexiest Woman Alive by Esquire, and in a 2011 photo shoot for the magazine, she stripped down and covered up with the Union Jack.

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.

2012: Sgt. Pepper's Album Cover

In 2012, Helen Mirren was selected by Sir Peter Blake to appear in a new version of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.

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.

March 2013: Marks & Spencer Campaign and Best-Dressed List

In March 2013, Helen Mirren became a model for Marks & Spencer's "Womanism" campaign and was listed as one of the 50 Best-Dressed Over 50 by The Guardian.

2013: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

In 2013, Helen Mirren received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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".