Rendering 5: 'Whenever I see the Queen, I think, "Oh ... there I am": The right royal progress of Helen Mirren'

The article 'Whenever I see the Queen, I think, "Oh ...there I am"': The right royal progress of Helen Mirren’ was published by Neil Norman in the Independent on March 10, 2013. It reports at length and carries a lot of comments on a successful “royal” career of Helen Mirren, as to play one British monarch named Elizabeth may be considered fortunate; to play two looks like calculation.

   Speaking of her success, it is interesting to note that when Helen Mirren followed her portrayal of Elizabeth I in 2005 with Elizabeth II in 2006 the crown was hers for the taking.

   Analyzing her career, it is necessary to emphasize that coming from Russian Tsarist stock, it may be that she has a genetic disposition towards blue-blooded roles. There is every reason to believe that her grandfather Piotr Vasilievich Mironoff was a tsarist (White Russian) aristocrat who was in London negotiating an arms deal during the First World War when the 1917 Russian Revolution stranded him there.

   Giving appraisal of the situation, it’s intriguing to point out that Mirren was starring as Cleopatra in the 1965 production of Antony and Cleopatra. Besides, there are signs that she began playing sexually charged roles such as Castiza in the 1966 staging of The Revenger's Tragedy; Cressida in a 1968 production of Troilus and Cressida; and Lady Macbeth in the 1974 Trevor Nunn production of Macbeth. Moreover, the article draws our attention to the moment that some labels are hard to understand, and the difference is that Mirren has learned to exploit it. Following the notorious interview with Michael Parkinson, it was clear that Mirren was not going to let a little thing like male chauvinism stand in the way of her career nor dampen her sexual allure. Moreover, by 2006, Mirren had a cupboard full of awards and had been made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honour List. 

   It’s an open secret that the remarkable thing about Mirren is her seemingly effortless ability to please most of the people all of the time. She has retained a dignity and professional kudos among her peers and the public through a string of performances and accompanying awards while retaining the factor that threatened to overshadow her early career.

   Thus the article concludes by saying that Mirren’s most endearing qualities – and what makes her the darling of media as politically polarized – is her attitude to her work which is respectful without being precious. And, I think, judging by the photo, Helen Mirren is very similar to its prototype. Besides, the actress is so at home playing royalty that you could slap her on to a postage stamp and no one would know the difference. And with the help of a great talent, she not only triumphs by the word, but also makes an indelible impression.