Happy Birthday, Helen Mirren: Top Highlights Of The Veteran Actress As She Turns 76

Jul 26, 2021

Dame Helen Mirren is one of the most respected actresses of all time, as she has starred in several astonishing films and television series over the many years of her career. Some of her most accomplished jobs over the years include her roles in "Antony and Cleopatra," "The Queen," and "Prime Suspect." The actress is incredibly beloved worldwide, especially in the United States and in her home in the United Kingdom.

With plenty of awards and accolades under her belt for all of her extraordinary work and dedication to theater, film, and television, it's no surprise that Mirren has become a household name. Many have grown accustomed to her bright hair and soft demeanor despite the impressive range she has portrayed in characters across the span of her career. Not only has she portrayed three different queens in both film and television, but Mirren herself has also been appointed a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II.

Mirren has now turned 76 years old and still looks absolutely beautiful. Her smile is as soft as ever, and her style is impeccable. Although Mirren has been able to stay so gorgeous both inside and out over the years, it's hard not to remember how breathtaking she was during her prime. When Mirren first stepped onto the scene of the acting world, she was a showstopper with a wide range of talents and effervescent beauty. We're wishing this Hollywood icon a happy birthday and taking the chance of this wonderful occasion to look back on the star's long career.
 

Early Life

Mirren was born on July 26, 1945, in London, England. She was the second of three children, with an older sister, Katherine, and a younger brother, Peter.

At a young age, Mirren found a love and passion for acting and landed herself the lead role in her primary school's production of "Hansel and Gretel." She also performed in more school productions as she got older and attended St. Bernard's High School for Girls. Furthering her education while still trying to make her dreams come true, Mirren attended the New College of Speech and Drama in London before finally auditioning for the National Youth Theatre at the age of 18. She was easily accepted into the program, and her career took off shortly after.

Success On The Stage

Mirren's work with the theatre was especially great, and it led her to join the Royal Shakespeare Company. She quickly picked up more important roles with the company, including a part in "The Revenger's Tragedy," "All's Well That Ends Well," and "The Two Gentlemen of Verona." Her work onstage carried her throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s.

The stage quickly became her home during the rest of the 1970s and during much of the 1980s. Some of the plays she performed during this time were "The Seagull," "Measure for Measure," "The Duchess of Malfi," and "Elegy for a Lady." Even after she had begun finding roles in movies and television, Mirren couldn't help but return to her origins and performed as Queen Elizabeth II in "The Audience" in February 2013. Mirren even won the Best Actress in a Play award from the Laurence Olivier Awards in 2013 for her role. In 2015, she won her first-ever Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her part in "The Audience."

Life On The Silver Screen

Mirren's career in film first started during the late 1960s with appearances in movies such as "Herostratus" in 1967 and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in 1968. Her big break in this part of the industry came from her role in "The Long Good Friday" in 1980, where she starred opposite Bob Hoskins. The actress was unstoppable, as she had no problems finding more and more work as the years went by, and her career easily stayed steady until the new millennium.

Portraying A Royal

Over the course of her career, Mirren has portrayed a handful of British royal family members and has truly shown off her impressive range as an actress. Her first performance as a queen was in 1994 with her portrayal of Charlotte in "The Madness of King George." In 2005, she portrayed Elizabeth I in the television series "Elizabeth I," which was shortly followed by her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen" in 2006. As of now, Mirren is the only actress that has played both Queens Elizabeth onscreen.

A Lifetime Of Achievements

One of the most accomplished acts an actor can do is receive the Triple Crown of Acting, a term used in the American entertainment industry to describe those who have won the most prestigious awards, such as an Academy Award, Emmy Award, and Tony Award. In British Entertainment, this can be achieved with the equivalent accolades in that industry, which include awards from the BAFTA Film Awards, BAFTA Television Awards, and the Laurence Olivier Awards.

Some actors that have achieved this include Al Pacino, Jessica Lange, and Viola Davis. Mirren is the only actor or actress in history to have completed both the American and British Triple Crowns.

What do you think about Helen Mirren's career? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your family and friends.