Helen Mirren Opens Up About ‘Generous’ Co-star Harrison Ford And Why She Loves Him

Jun 20, 2023 by apost team

Helen Mirren typifies acting. The award-winning A-list actress started her acting journey in primary school with a role in the school's "Hansel and Gretel" production. She continued acting in school and soon made it to the New College of Speech and Drama in London. When Mirren was 18, she decided to fully follow her passions and auditioned for a place in the National Youth Theatre. The talented actress got accepted and quickly found her foot in professional acting. 

Mirren's career started on stage, and she focused on that part of the industry from the '60s to much of the '80s. She successfully landed important roles in plays like "The Revenger's Tragedy," "All's Well That Ends Well," "The Seagull," "Measure for Measure," "The Duchess of Malfi" and "The Two Gentlemen of Verona". The world-renowned actress also played the role of Queen Elizabeth II in "The Audience" in February 2013, for which she won the Laurence Olivier Award and her first Tony Award in 2013 and 2015 for Best Actress in a Play, respectively. 

Besides acting in the theater, Mirren also occasionally acted in films at the time, but she transitioned more permanently to the medium in the '80s. In 1986, she played Mother Fox in Peter Weir's film, "The Mosquito Coast," alongside Harrison Ford. Mirren and Ford developed a mutual admiration for each other while on the job and will be reuniting on camera for a new project after 37 years. Mirren shared her thoughts about her former co-star with PEOPLE in June 2023 and revealed why she loves Ford. Continue reading to find out what she said about her colleague.

Mirren and Ford were worlds apart when they first worked together in 1986. The actress was known mostly for her theater work at the time. At the same time, Ford had already become a household name after playing Han Solo in the internationally acclaimed film "Star Wars" in 1977 and "Indiana Jones" starting in 1981. Consequently, Mirren was intimidated while working with him. 

However, they had a good time working together, and Ford was even kind enough to share some acting tips with his co-star, which Mirren still employs today. Mirren revealed that she learned from Ford by watching him, as she called him "generous" and revealed she was "fascinated" by him. On the other hand, Ford also considered his time working with Mirren to be "incredible." 

Meanwhile, 37 years later, both actors have grown significantly in their careers and received several awards and accolades. Mirren's work is widely acclaimed today, as she has earned the Triple Crown of Acting in the U.S. and the U.K., making her the only actor to have ever achieved the feat. 

The actress got the Triple Crown of Acting awards in both countries by earning the Academy Award, Emmy Award and Tony Award in America. In Britain, she received the BAFTA Film Awards, BAFTA Television Awards and the Laurence Olivier Awards. Mirren also received the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for her achievements in film and television. 

Ford, on the other hand, continued to record success after his movie with Mirren and has since been the recipient of several awards, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award, AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, an Honorary César, an Honorary Palme d'Or and an Academy Award nomination for his role in the 1985 thriller "Witness." 

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Mirren and Ford will be reuniting once again as a ranching couple on the big screen 37 years after their roles in "The Mosquito Coast." Mirren, who has proven that beauty is ageless, chatted with PEOPLE in an interview published on June 14, 2023, and spoke about how Ford has changed or remained the same in almost four decades. 

Mirren, who is ready to play her part in the “Yellowstone” spinoff “1923” alongside Ford, called him a "bloke, geezer, mensch and a God-given movie star.”  

“In his essence, Harrison Ford is the same person he was when I first met him,” the 77-year-old said of her co-star. Mirren noted that Ford remained just as "impatient with stardom as he always was." However, he loved kids and was "immeasurably patient" with the youngsters who took him as a hero. 

Mirren also observed that Ford loved his privacy and took his work seriously.

"His work was always beautifully designed and constructed, like the carpentry he was so well known for, and I was deeply impressed with his understanding and use of the techniques of film acting," she explained. 

"The Good Liar" actress revealed now that she and her co-star have reconnected, she sees that he is gracious, hilarious, and is not afraid of expressing himself while remaining "as professional as ever."

The "Red" actress further explained that what makes Ford a "legend" is that he is someone one could call when their car got stuck in a ditch, adding that he could also understand if one was sad about their cat dying and would go on to shed tears with the person. Mirren declared her fondness for the untiring hero: 

“And along with millions of others, I love him.”

Which of Helen Mirren's and Harrison Ford's movies have you watched? Do you have a favorite show or film of theirs? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family members and fellow Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford fans!