Happy New Year everybody. Helen Mirren, while spending the Holidays in Italy, was on hand on Thursday to attend a screening for “White Bird” at the Cinema Moderno in Tricase. While Lionsgate has moved the film’s release forward once again – this time a whopping 10 months to October 2024 – the history drama releases Italian cinemas this week. A couple of pictures from the premiere and some additional production stills have been added to the photo gallery. A compilation of Italian tv reports have been added as well.

A late Christmas surprise is coming our way from Vanity Fair Italy’s December 29 issue with Helen Mirren on the cover and an in-depth interview inside in which she dishes on the recent release of “Golda” and its time in recent history, the January release of “White Bird” (which has been pushed by its American distributor to October 2024) and enjoying the Italian life. A translated version can be found in the press archive with the cover being added to the photo gallery. Enjoy the additions and a Happy New Year to everybody.

I read many history books and it seems clear to me that horror has always been a constant in the human condition. What was Alexander the Great great for? For killing millions of innocents? And Stalin? I grew up in England with the troubles (the conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, ed.) and I saw how these pseudo-racial conflicts can last indefinitely, unless truly excellent leaders are found. I believe, and perhaps I’m wrong, that if there were more women in politics things would be different. You know, seeing these summits with heads of state that are almost always all men makes me angry, frustrates and saddens me. I would like to see parties made up of half women, in every part of the world. (Helen Mirren, Vanity Fair Italy, December 29, 2023)

In a video published yesterday, Helen Mirren sat down with Harper’s Bazaar UK to chat through her beauty bag (or “swagger bag”, as she calls it) and her mission to tackle ageism in partnership with L’Oréal Paris, with whom she’s worked with since 2014. “I think what we need to tackle ageism in general, in our society, is to see more and more women in the world of politics, in the world of professions – doctors, lawyers, teachers – in the world of education, in the world of sciences,” says Mirren. “And not a 25-year-old woman, a 55- or 65-year-old woman. That’s what we need. We need those faces of authority, of success. There are many of them out there.” And whatever you do, don’t tell ever tell a woman she “looks good for her age”, she warns. “It’s patronising, it’s insulting, we hate that comment.” The video can be watched in the video archive, with screencaptures and a promotional still added to the photo gallery as well.

Helen Mirren might be the last person to expect in a commercial for Uber Eats – but the dame is there, and she delivers. She’s also in good company, as additional commercials feature Idris Elba and Michael Cera. Tapping into the actress’s poised roles on the big screen, the commercial shows Mirren having an inner monologue about what she should order. “Like ants, the people of the city scurried,” Mirren says in a distinguished tone while looking out the window. “Above them all, a Dame – ugh, Helen, you’re narrating again, you stupid sausage,” she interrupts herself, switching into a casual voice. “Oh, I’d love a sausage.” The commercial is accompanied by an interview in People, in which Helen “dishes” about kitchen mishaps and go-to takeout orders. Screencaptures from the clip and a promotional still have been added to the photo gallery.

Congratulations to Helen Mirren for receiving a Golden Globe nomination as Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama for “1923”. The seris was also nominated as Best Television Series – Drama. This is Helen’s 17th nominations at the Golden Globes. She won three times for “Losing Chase” in 1997, as well as for “Elizabeth I.” and “The Queen” in 2007. The awards will be handed out on January 07, 2023, at the The Beverly Hilton.

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama

Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us)
Emma Stone (The Curse)
Helen Mirren (1923)
Imelda Staunton (The Crown)
Keri Russell (The Diplomat)
Sarah Snook (Succession)

On Thursday, Helen Mirren presented Adele with the the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award at The Hollywood Reporter’s Annual Women in Entertainment Gala in Los Angeles. As Mirren spoke to Adele’s star power at the event, she likened her first time hearing the six-time Grammy winner to when she first heard music legends like Edith Piaf and Elvis Presley. Pictures, screencaptures and videos from the event have been added to the archives.

You know, there are moments in life that you never forget and none more so when you first hear an artist and a song that’s truly different from anything that’s come before and really speaks to you. And I’ll never forget the first time I had that experience was when I heard Edith Piaf sing, and then when I heard Elvis Presley sing, and I had exactly the same reaction a few decades later. I think it was about 2008, maybe, when I heard Adele singing ‘Hometown Glory,’ and this shiver went down my back. That chill that comes just a few times in your life when you realize you are listening to a brilliant and game-changing artist. And I thought, wow, a goddess walks amongst us.

The Hollywood Reporter said Tuesday that Academy Award winner and 2010 Sherry Lansing Leadership Award honoree Helen Mirren will present this year’s award to Adele at the breakfast gala, presented by Lifetime, on Dec. 7 in Los Angeles. The actress received the prestigious honour herself in 2010 following her achievements in the film industry and organisers are now thrilled that she will “pass the torch” to singer Adele, 35, when the celebrations get underway at their breakfast gala on December 7 with a host of other A-Listers in attendance. Co-editors in chief Nekesa Mumbi Moody and Maer Roshan said: “We’re honored to have 2010’s Sherry Lansing Leadership Award honoree pass the torch this year to Adele. “We’re also incredibly grateful to Will Ferrell, Camila Cabello, Lily Gladstone, Dua Lipa, Billie Lourd and Bryan Lourd for joining us to celebrate the occasion in support of our mentorship program and to help these young women achieve their dreams.”

Here comes another great treat from the past. In March of 2002, Helen Mirren attended “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” to talk about her Oscar nomination for “Gosford Park” and winning at the SAG Awards. The interview was “crashed” (or rather politely interrupted) by her fellow nominee and “Dance of Death” co-star Ian McKellen, who was making the talkshow rounds for his nominated performance as Gandalf in “The Lord of the Rings”. The full interview can be found below, screencaptures have been added to the photo gallery. P.S. This is the first of three appearances by Helen on Conan O’Brien’s show. She also promoted “The Queen” in 2006 and her autobiography in 2008. All appearances can be found in the video archive.

On Thursday, Helen Mirren joined her fellow L’Oréal Paris ladies Camila Cabello, Aja Naomi King, Andie MacDowell and Eva Longoria for the French personal care brand’s 18th Annual Women of Worth Celebration at NeueHouse Hollywood. Helen, who became a brand ambassador in 2014, looked sophisticated in a blue long-sleeve gown selected by stylist Rachel Fanconi. Pictures from the event have been added to the photo gallery.

Another busy week for Helen Mirren: The Australian and New Zealand’s Women Weekly are both gifting Mirren their December 2023 cover stories. On Monday, she joined make-up artist Val Garland, influencer Nadine Baggott, chef and TV presenter Andi Oliver and anti-ageing expert George Lee in a panel to discuss ageing (one quarter of the population will be over sixty by 2050) and the beauty industry, hosted by L’oréal – who also released a stunning new editorial picture from their most recent campaign. All updates are listed below. Enjoy.