Welcome to The Helen Mirren Archives, your premiere web resource on the British actress. Best known for her performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, "Prime Suspect" and her Oscar-winning role in "The Queen", Helen Mirren is one of the world's most eminent actors today. This unofficial fansite provides you with all latest news, photos and videos on her past and present projects.  Enjoy your stay.
Celebrating
10 years
on the web
Oct
30
2021

I have never heard of this magazine before, but we’re not going to complain about a great new cover story, do we? Scans from the December 2021 issue o the British Platinum magazine have been added to the photo gallery.

Related Media

Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – 2021 – Platinum (United Kingdom, December 2021)

Jul
13
2021

A nice batch of additional magazine scans have been added to the photo gallery, ranging from May’s promotion of Amazon’s Solos to June’s press tour for “Fast & Furious 9”. For a complete list, have a look at the previews below. Enjoy reading.


Related Media

Magazine Articles & Scans – 2021 – My Weekly Special (United Kingdom, July 08, 2021)
Magazine Articles & Scans – 2021 – The New York Post (United States, June 25, 2021)
Magazine Articles & Scans – 2021 – What’s on TV (United Kingdom, May 15, 2021)
Magazine Articles & Scans – 2021 – Gente (Italy, May 07, 2021)
Magazine Articles & Scans – 2021 – Closer Weekly (United States, April 21, 2021)
Magazine Articles & Scans – 2021 – People Magazine (United States, April 19, 2021)

Jun
28
2021

According to Entertainment Weekly, Helen Mirren is officially Fast & Furious royalty. After openly campaigning for a role in the action franchise, the Oscar-winning The Queen actress debuted in 2017’s The Fate of the Furious as, fittingly, Queenie Shaw, the charming criminal mother of Deckard (Jason Statham), Owen (Luke Evans), and Hattie (Vanessa Kirby). She returned in the 2019 spin-off Hobbs & Shaw, but through two outings, Mirren, 75, never got a chance to do the one thing she wanted more than anything else: drive a car. Good news arrived in January, when Fast star and producer Vin Diesel told EW that F9 would finally feature Mirren getting the behind the wheel. “Without giving away any spoilers… You know what, I’m going to give you a spoiler,” he said. “Yes, she gets to drive. It’s so awesome. She gets to drive, and she gets to drive sleek.” Ahead of Mirren’s scene-stealing turn in F9 (in theaters Friday), she strapped into the passenger seat of EW’s BINGE: The Fast Saga to talk about her dream coming true, her unexplainable chemistry with Diesel, and possible casting for Papa Shaw. You can read the complete interview over at Entertainment Weekly.

I had an auntie Queenie. One of my mother’s sisters was called Queenie, which is a very old East End name. It’s nothing to do with the queen, but I thought it was funny to play the Queen and then to be called Queenie. We’re a very different person from a very different background. So I love the fact my auntie Queenie has become a part of the Fast & Furious. She’d be amazed if she knew.

Jun
28
2021

“I was longing to drive,” Helen Mirren has revealed to Jeff Conway at Forbes. “The reason I wanted to be in the Fast & Furious movies so I could drive cars really fast down closed-off streets. For the first two movies, I wasn’t anywhere near a car, so I paid my dues, so now I was allowed to get into the car.” In F9, new in theaters this weekend, Helen gets to do some enjoyable joy riding alongside the film franchise’s top-billed star Vin Diesel, whom Helen gives full credit to for her being a part of these projects. “I suspect really I’m in it because I begged to be in it and Vin is a very kindhearted person,” Helen continues. “I think that’s really the real reason. Sometimes, you have to ask for what you want or what you dream of having. One should have the courage to ask for it. A couple glasses of wine always help.” Even though Helen seems like a natural behind the wheel on-screen, in reality, she has nothing but praise for the skilled professionals behind-the-scenes that make her and the F9 car chase scenes look so good. “I would like to say here that I’m a firm believer there should be an Oscar category for stunt people because the stunt people on films like Fast & Furious and many, many of the other movies that we all enjoy so much in the cinema are down to extraordinary stunt organizers and actors and actresses who do such extraordinary things.” The complete interview can be read at Forbes.

Jun
08
2021

According to this new interview with People Magazine, Helen Mirren is finally living out her dream. The Oscar winner, 75, fulfilled her goal of starring in two previous Fast & Furious movies as the Shaw matriarch Magdalene, but the role didn’t have her sitting behind the wheel. That changes in F9, when Mirren finally gets to drive one of the cars. “I finally did it, yes!” she said to Entertainment Tonight. “And what a car! And what a drive, down The Mall in London! It was the coolest thing ever. But with Vin [Diesel[ next to [me]! Driving him, I mean, that was fantastic! And I do actually know how to do a double declutch. And an amazing car. It was a dream. It was fantastic.” Back in 2017, Mirren made her goal of getting behind the wheel clear. “I’d love to come back. But, guys, I want to drive next time,” Mirren told Entertainment Weekly, PEOPLE, and InStyle at the Toronto International Film Festival. As Mirren previously explained in an interview with BuzzFeed, she practically begged to be included in the film because she was such a fan of the series. “I almost went down on my knees. Not quite. But I went down on my metaphorical knees to Vin [Diesel] and to everyone,” Mirren said at the time. “I always… I just wanted to be in one of those movies.” Speaking to EW about the women of the Fast & Furious franchise, Mirren said one of the things she always loved about the film series is the sense of familial bond. “I think that’s one of the reasons they’re popular films, because that is the one element that everybody all over the world can identify with simply, easily, and directly, so it’s great to see this other level being brought in with the different generations of the family, the fact that family actually goes on through many generations over long periods of time,” she said. “I thought that that was a nice thing to introduce into the storyline.”

Jun
06
2021

This past week, lots of articles and interviews have been released to report on the release of “Solos” earlier this month and “F9” later this month. Helen has been quite vocal about both projects and we are being blessed with 4 cover stories from Woman & Home, Woman’s Weekly, Yours and the United Kingdom edition of Reader’s Digest. For a complete look at all added scans, have a look at the list below. Enjoy reading.



Related Media

Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Woman & Home (United Kingdom, July 2021)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Woman’s Weekly (New Zealand, June 07, 2021)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Yours (United Kingdom, June 01, 2021)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – New York Daily News (United States, May 20, 2021)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – TV & Satellite Week (United Kingdom, May 15, 2021)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – TV Times (United Kingdom, May 15, 2021)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Reader’s Digest (United Kingdom, May 2021)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Woman (United Kingdom, February 2021)

May
24
2021

Solos, Amazon’s newly launched sci-fi series, is unlike anything else on the small screen. Creator David Weil’s vision of the future unfolds via episodes that focus and feature a single performer. Familiar faces like Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, Anthony Mackie, and Constance Wu monologue through stylized sequences that combine to form an overarching narrative. While we’re used to seeing actors command the stage by themselves on Broadway, most television shows and films rely on a cast of characters. This stripped-down version of storytelling offers a new level of intimacy for audiences, but it’s just as exciting for the performers. “Anything that shakes up the format is interesting, isn’t it?” shared Mirren via Zoom. “At first, I thought, oh, it’s a monologue, it’s just too much work. I don’t know if I’ll be good enough, but then I read the script, and I thought, this is such a beautiful piece of writing. There’s such sensibility and understanding of a certain sort of woman, one who is very recognizable.” It’s hard to imagine an acting scenario where Mirren wouldn’t be up to snuff. As one of cinema’s most versatile stars, she’s played everyone from Catherine the Great to a trained assassin with skill. Still, her Solo character, Peg, feels like a departure. Self-doubting and shy, she’s spent her life apologizing for existing, but when an opportunity to see the galaxy comes around, Peg decides to take a chance. Surprisingly, Mirren saw a bit of herself in the role. “When I read it, I thought, this is my apologetic, British side, and it drives my husband crazy because he’s American and doesn’t understand it at all,” she says. “I identified with Peg. That part of me is why I became an actor. Many actors are extremely shy people who can’t deal with the real world, but the way they [manage] is through performance. It gives them a portal through which they can engage.” The complete article can be read over at Vogue.

Dec
19
2020

It’s that time of the year again – only that this year has been very different from what we have known. I hope you and your loved ones have made it safe through the year and that you can enjoy the Christmas holiday and celebrate some positive things. To all the visitors, friends and contributors – have a Merry Christmas and a safe start into the new year. For the site’s last update of the year, I have compiled a batch of missing magazine scans, inlcuding some fantastic cover stories. A full list of updates is below, with many thanks to Alvaro for his contributions. See you all in 2021.


Related Media

Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – Vogue (Japan, September 2020)
Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – The Weekender (United Kingdom, July 22, 2020)
Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – Woman (United Kingdom, June 01, 2020)
Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – Silver Digest (United Kingdom, December 2019)
Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – O Estado de Sao Paulo (Brasil, November 19, 2019)
Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – Hello! (United Kingdom, April 20, 2016)
Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – The Mail on Sunday Event (United Kingdom, March 29, 2015)
Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – The Herald Sun Weekend (Australia, July 05, 2014)
Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – Metro (Canada, December 24, 2010)
Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – The Daily Mail Weekend (United Kingdom, September 08, 2007)
Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – ES Magazine (Spain, September 29, 2006)
Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – The Sunday Telegraph (United Kingdom, September 25, 2005)
Photo Gallery – Magazine Articles & Scans – TV Times (United Kingdom, September 24, 2005)

Oct
03
2020

A couple of weeks/months ago I made a big magazine scans update to the photo gallery and completely forgot to make an update on it – so if you’ve found them by now, you can consider them exclusive finds 🙂 For everybody else, here’s a complete list of all added magazine scans from 1970 to 2020 – fifty years of articles, reviews, interviews and some great new cover stories.



Related Media

Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Zwierciadlo Sens (Poland, May 2020)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Woman’s Weekly (Australia, January 2018)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – TV & Satellite Week (United Kingdom, June 18, 2016)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – The Angel Resident (United States, March 2016)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – The New Yorker (United States, April 16, 2015)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – People Magazine (United States, April 13, 2015)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – The Guide (United Kingdom, March 13, 2013)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Newsweek (United States, October 02, 2006)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Vanity Fair (United States, October 2006)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – The Daily Express (United Kingdom, September 24, 2005)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Premiere Magazine (United States, July 1999)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Architectural Digest (United States, April 1998)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – The Times (United States, September 19, 1996)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Vanity Fair (United States, January 1995)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Newsweek (United States, March 06, 1995)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Vanity Fair (United States, May 1994)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Newsweek (United States, May 16, 1994)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – The Observer (United Kingdom, February 16, 1994)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Newsweek (United Kingdom, February 22, 1993)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Vanity Fair (United States, February 1992)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Newsweek (United States, April 23, 1990)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Sight and Sound (United Kingdom, October 1989)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Newsweek (United States, November 18, 1985)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Film Review (United Kingdom, May 1985)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Starburst Magazine (United States, April 1985)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Manchete (Brasil, December 29, 1984)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Manchete (Brasil, December 19, 1981)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Cinema (Germany, October 1981)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Premiere Magazine (France, September 1981)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Newsweek (United States, April 13, 1981)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – TV Week (United Kingdom, September 27, 1980)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Sight and Sound (United Kingdom, Summer 1980)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – New Musical Express (United Kingdom, August 1975)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Radio Times (United Kingdom, April 02, 1975)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – Radio Times (United Kingdon, May 18, 1974)
Photo Gallery – Articles & Scans – The Sunday Times Magazine (United Kingdom, August 02, 1970)

Jul
26
2020

Helen Mirren turns 75 today (congratulations :-)) and The Guardian‘s Michael Billington has written a fantastic and most in-depth article to celebrate not only her birthday but her legacy: Who is Helen Mirren? Looking back over her career, as she hits 75, it is tempting to see her as two separate people. First, there was the outspoken young classical actor who fiercely resisted objectification, whether from newspapers (“Stratford’s very own sex queen” was a notorious Sunday Times headline) or TV chatshow hosts. Then came the mature Mirren with a gift for playing monarchs (Elizabeth I on TV, Elizabeth II on screen and stage), for picking up every award going, and for being a great dame associated with excellent causes. Among many, she is an ambassador for Women International. Yet I see no great gulf between the two Mirrens. Having followed her career for 50 years, several things strike me. One is that she has always been a dedicated, highly skilled actor. Another is that she is a perennial mix of the nomadic and the majestic: you don’t get to play Cleopatra, as she did for the National Youth Theatre when she was 20, without some inbuilt imperiousness. Indeed, one of my few brief encounters with her took place around that time, when I went to a party hosted by one of her Youth Theatre contemporaries. My abiding memory is of a self-possessed young woman who made many of the men at the party feel like boys (and I, for one, was five years older). Where does that confidence come from? You could argue that it is partly genetic. It is well-known that she was born Helen Mironoff and that her paternal grandfather was a Russian aristocrat who fought in the tsar’s army and who was negotiating an arms deal in Britain when he and his family were stranded by the 1917 revolution. The complete article can be read here.