Dame Helen had a busy Tuesday in London with appearances at the premiere of “The Duke” as well as a taping of “The Graham Norton Show”, which will air this Friday in the UK. Pictures have been added to the photo gallery.

During the Christmas Holidays, I recapped some of Helen’s films that I found in better quality – and which serve as a great testament of her acting range if you throw these three films togehter: There’s “Eye in the Sky” from 2015, in which Helen played a UK-based military colonel in command of a secret drone opteration. Then, there’s Paul Schrader’s 1990 drama/horror “The Comfort of Strangers”, which is one of the most deranged projects in Helen’s career. Nevertheless, it was great seeing the restored version in such great quality, I hope the screencaptures show, it remains a guilty pleasure. The third film is a 1982 BBC adaptation of Stephen Poliakoff’s “Soft Targets”, in which Helen draws Ian Holm’s Soviet journalist character into the eccentric upper-middle-class English life. Enjoy the new screencaptures.

Next month, Helen Mirren will receive the Life Achievement Award at the (most probably virtual) Screen Actors Guild Awards on February 27. In a special For Your Consideration issue, the guild’s official magazine is bestowing us with a wonderful cover story and article that features an outstanding new editorial of Helen. Have a look at the scans below.

According to Deadline, Sony Pictures Classics has set a March 25 theatrical release date for The Duke, directed by the late Roger Michell. The film starring Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren will open in theaters in New York and Los Angeles before expanding in the following weeks. The dramedy is currently playing at the Laemmle Royal in Los Angeles for a one-week awards qualifying run through Dec. 16. The Duke is set in 1961, when Kempton Bunton, a 60-year old taxi driver, stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. It was the first (and remains the only) theft in the Gallery’s history. Kempton sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on condition that the government agreed to provide television for free to the elderly. What happened next became the stuff of legend. Only 50 years later did the full story emerge – a startling revelation of how a good man set out to change the world and in so doing saved his son and his marriage. With screenplay by Richard Bean and Clive Coleman, it’s produced by Nicky Bentham and executive produced by Cameron McCracken and Jenny Borgars for Pathé, Andrea Scarso for Ingenious Media, Hugo Heppell for Screen Yorkshire, Peter Scarf, and Christopher Bunton. It played at the Venice and Telluride Film Festivals. It is the final film from Michell, who passed away in September. A couple of new production stills have been added alongside the Italian poster for the film.

Dame Helen Mirren and actor Nicholas Hoult are among the stars wearing vintage festive knits while holding messages from children across the world in support of Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day campaign, according to The Independent. This year stars, including model and actress Poppy Delevingne, activist Munroe Bergdorf and Bafta EE Rising Star winner Bukky Bakray, have all been photographed holding messages from young people about their hopes for the future to celebrate 10 years of the annual fundraiser. Dame Helen is pictured holding a message that reads “Defend the rights of girls”, written by a 14-year-old named Maya from Syria, while Hoult’s sign reads “Ban plastic. Reduce pollution” and has been written by siblings James and Isla who attend a school in Wales which is supported by Save the Children.

To celebrate 10 years of Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day, famous faces from across the nation have joined forces to amplify the urgent changes that children want to see in the world.The striking images, shot by celebrated photographer Misan Harriman, connects influential names from the worlds of fashion, film and music with young people’s messages of protest and hope for the future. Launching a month before Christmas, the series aims to give children from communities across the globe a platform to share the changes they want to see in the world – from reducing pollution to ending racism – and share their messages of hope for the future.“Defend the rights of girls” are the poignant words written by 14-year-old Maya from Syria and chosen by Helen Mirren to feature in her portrait. Maya, who now lives in Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan is a powerful advocate for the rights of girls and is determined to end child marriage. Supported by Save the Children to deliver advocacy training in the camp, Maya now helps to raise awareness among parents of child marriage and the importance of female empowerment. “I always tell girls to defend their rights, to defend their roles and to be the voice of all women in the community. I tell them don’t stay quiet,” she says.“A girl has dreams, a future and many other things. We must prevent early marriage, prevent harassment and prevent anything that might be a factor in destroying girls’ lives.”Speaking of her involvement in the campaign, Dame Helen Mirren said: “I’m delighted to be supporting Save the Children’s 10th Christmas Jumper Day. “My placard says ‘defend the rights of girls’ and the words were chosen by a young Syrian refugee called Maya who is a strong advocate for girl’s rights within her camp and is particularly passionate about ending child marriage and campaigning for better education for girls and I feel very lucky to be able to share the message of such a powerful cause.

The campaign also advocates sustainability as each celebrity photographed is wearing a one-off vintage jumper, some of which will be distributed back into Save the Children outlets across the country and will be available to purchase from December 1. Save The Children said its Christmas Jumper Day – being held on December 10 and which asks those taking part to donate £2 – has raised more than £27 million since launching in 2012. The fundraiser is encouraging the nation to upcycle, borrow or buy a second-hand festive sweater this year to make it the most sustainable Christmas Jumper Day yet.

Helen Mirren is former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir in this first look for Guy Nattiv’s upcoming biopic “Golda”, as shared by The Hollywood Reporter, which has now started shooting in London. The film is written by Nicholas Martin and set during the Yom Kippur War of 1973, when Egypt, Syria and Jordan launched a surprise attack on Israel to reclaim territory lost during the Six-Day War in 1967. Described as a “ticking-clock thriller,” Golda charts the high-stakes responsibilities Meir faced and the controversial decision she took amid infighting from her hostile all-male cabinet. “Golda Meir was a formidable, intransigent and powerful leader,” said Mirren. “It is a great challenge to portray her at the most difficult moment of her extraordinary life. I only hope I do her justice!” “I have long been an admirer of the great Helen Mirren,” said Nattiv. “She has melted so brilliantly into Golda Meir’s character with incredible talent, intelligence, depth and emotion, doing justice to the richness and complexity of this incredible woman.” As previously announced, Bleecker Street and ShivHans acquired U.S. rights to the film, in a deal negotiated by ICM Independent and CAA Media Finance. “Golda” is produced by Michael Kuhn (Florence Foster Jenkins, The Duchess) for Qwerty Films and by Jane Hooks and Nicholas Martin. The film shoots for six weeks in London and on location in Israel.

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.

Harry Potter is commemorating 20 years since the debut of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with its own series competition, Dame Helen Mirren, celebrity guests, and even a few of Hogwarts own esteemed alumni — and a new trailer is showing us just how cool Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses is going to be. Fans competing against one another in hard-hitting trivia complete with their house regalia on full display? Check. Special guest stars of the Potter world like Harry Potter film alums Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Dan Folger (Fantastic Beasts’ Jacob Kowalski) and Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom)? Check. Even some cameos from Potter superfans Pete Davidson and Jay Leno? Check. As the trailer indicates, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses will celebrate the fans — one of which will take home the ultimate championship trophy, as well as bragging rights for all wizarding eternity. And with Mirren at the helm, we can expect it to be as full of magic as the Goblet of Fire… though hopefully with less dangerous tasks. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses will kick off Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on TBS and Cartoon Network with “Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff” and continue with Ravenclaw and Slytherin going head to head before the two winning houses compete in a wildcard episode and finally, the grand finale. The interactive competition also invites Harry Potter fans from around the world to join in via digital quiz events that will launch on WizardingWorld.com starting Nov. 26 through Dec. 10.

The latest installment of the “Fast & Furious” franchise released on-demand and Blu-Ray this October, so everyone who missed it in the theaters and/or is curious to see Helen reprising her role as Magdalene “Queenie” Shaw, here’s your chance. It’s really not more than a cameo with one scene shared with Vin Diesel, but they seem to get along just well and I’m sure there’ll be a place for Magdalene” in the next films to follow. If you couldn’t care less, I don’t judge you :-). Enjoy the screencaptures.

Earlie today, Helen Mirren has been named Ambassador of the University of Salento during a press conference. Mirren said she was honored by the recognition and hopes to live up to the expectations and feels proud to be an ambassador of Italian culture around the world. The recognition was conceived by the University with a double purpose: To honor personalities from business, research and culture for their excellence in their daily commitment, and to promote the University’s initiatives at institutions, bodies and organizations. A bunch of official press photos have been added to the photo gallery.