When discussing the trailblazing career of Helen Mirren, there are tons of titles you can use to describe her, such as icon, dame, legend, trailblazer, and role model.
But on top of all of her incredible accomplishments and achievements, there’s a lot more to the Oscar-winner that many fans don’t know about.
Below we’ve gathered 14 facts about Helen Mirren that will make you an even bigger fan of this incredible talent. [1]
Fact #1 Helen’s Offical Royal Title
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Helen is called a dame. For folks outside of the U.K., this may sound like an old 1920s reference to a beautiful woman. But, it’s actually a royal title bestowed upon her, which is the female equivalent of a knight. Helen was awarded her Damehood by Queen Elizabeth the II in 2003 as a reward for her years of dedicated service to the dramatic arts.
Fact #2 Helen is a huge fan of Harry Potter.
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Helen Mirren is not only one of the greatest British actresses to grace the stage she’s also crazy about all things Harry Potter. When she was asked to host a Harry Potter Quiz show set up to honor the 20-the anniversary of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Helen didn’t hesitate and saw it as a big honor.
Fact #3 She had a strange encounter with Keith Moon, the late drummer for “The Who”
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While performing in a play called “Teeth and Smiles,” everyone could hear a loud banging noise coming from Helen’s dressing room door. When she went to investigate, the actress was greeted by a very intoxicated Keith Moon, who proceeded to profess his undying love for Helen and even tried to convince her to allow him to play in the play’s stage band.
Fact #4 Helen once buried James Corden during a hilarious freestyle rap battle
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Helen Mirren is an incredibly talented woman with many hidden talents fans never knew about. And after her battle with James Corden, many speculate that she’s a low-key fan of hip hop and may have written a few rhymes herself!
You can watch the video below.
Fact #5 Helen Mirren is half-Russian
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Helen Mirren actually goes by her stage name. When the actress was born on July 26, 1945, she was named Lydia Petrovna Mironova. Her dad was born in Russia and immigrated to the U.K. when he was two years old.
Fact #6 Many of Hollywood’s leading men have a huge crush on Helen
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Celebs such as 50 Cent, James Marsden, Ryan Reynolds, Paul Rudd, and many more end up tongue-twisted around the charismatic and enchanting actress. It’s not hard to see why.
Fact #7 Triple Crown Winner
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Helen Mirren is one of the very few people to win the triple crown of acting, which includes winning an Emmy, Tony Award, and Academy Award.
Fact #8 Helen a thing or two about twerking
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Many think of Helen as being super-refined, which she is, but she’s also very down to earth and loves having fun. During an appearance on Live with Kelly & Michael, the iconic actress revealed yet another hidden talent by twerking with host Michael Strahan, a self-described expert on this style of dancing. But, Helen proved she could hang with the very best! Check out the video below.
Fact #9 Helen’s still a devil under the sheets
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Many people are under the mistaken impression that after 60, people stop having sex. But, according to Helen Mirren, she’s not only as active as ever. She’s only gotten better at the deed as she’s grown older!
Fact #10 She’s yet to play one role that’s eluded her for the entirety of her career
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During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Helen Mirren told him that she’s always wished to play the main role in William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” but was never offered the opportunity. You can watch the clip below.
Fact #11 Helen loves her Shakespear
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Speaking of Shakespear, Helen says being present during William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” live performance represented a transformative experience that has since shaped her life and career as an actress. She also believes that children should first see a Shakespeare play performed before reading them.
Fact #12 Helen’s considered the “Sexiest Older Woman in the World.”
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A fun poll questioned 1,000 people who they saw as the “Most sensational woman over the age of 60.” It doesn’t come as a big surprise that Helen earned the top stop beating other sex symbols such as Goldie Hawn, Sofia Loren, and Susan Sarandon.
Fact #13 Helen fought a bear
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While working in her home garden, Helen was confronted by a large black bear that came by to say hello. At first, she was pretty startled, but then she regained her wits and started yelling and shooing the large beast away. It’s a decision she later admitted that she now regrets. You can watch a video of her telling the story below.
Fact #14 Helen loves Radiohead
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The last interesting fact about Helen Mirren is that she’s a big fan of the 90s indie-rock band Radiohead. While accepting the Berlinale’s Golden Bear Lifetime Achievement Award, Helen graced the ceremony wearing a black studded jacket. On the back, just beneath the neck, was the symbol of the Union Jack along with the words “Karma Police” written beneath.
Also, here’s a video talking a bit more about Helen Mirren and her incredible career.
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Sources:
- “15 Facts About Helen Mirren Fans Probably Didn’t Know” Crafty Diply. Jordan Claes. February 3, 2022.