There are plenty of titles you can adorn Helen Mirren with when discussing her trailblazing career. Legend, icon, and Dame are just a few that immediately come to mind.
But on top of all her many incredible achievements and accomplishments , there’s a lot about the Oscar-winning that remains unsaid. Have a look below and check out these 15 facts about Helen Mirren fans probably didn’t know.
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Helen is a Dame.
In case you happen to live outside of the UK, a Dame is the female equivalent of a Knight. Helen received her Damehood from the Queen herself, back in 2003, for all the years of service she devoted to the dramatic arts.
Helen is a huge Potterhead.
Hellen Mirren is one of the only great British actors to have never appeared in the iconic Harry Potter franchise. When the time came to select a host for a Harry Potter Quiz Show , honoring the 20-year anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone , Helen was first on the list and agreed right away.
She had a startling encounter with The Who’s late-drummer, Keith Moon.
While Helen was appearing in a play called “Teeth and Smiles,” there came a loud banging on her dressing room door. When she opened it, she was greeted by a very drunk Keith Moon , who professed his adoration for the actress and tried to convince her to let him play in the stage band.
Helen once bodied James Corden in a freestyle rap battle.
Helen Mirren has a myriad of hidden talents. But I’d be willing to bet dollars to donuts that you never would’ve suspected that she has a secret love for hip-hop culture. As is seen in the video, Helen can really rap.
Helen is half-Russian.
The name Helen Mirren is actually a stage name. When she was born, back on July 26th, 1945, Helen was called Lydia Petrovna Mironova . Her father was born in Russia and came to the UK when he was two years old.
Helen is the sexual obsession of some of Hollywood’s most revered celebrities/leading men.
Helen Mirren has long been considered a sex symbol. Numerous celebrities such as James Marsden, 50 Cent , Paul Rudd, Ryan Reynolds, and many more wind up reduced to a puddle on the floor just from being in the same room as her. It’s not hard to understand why.
Helen has won the Triple Crown of acting.
Helen is one of only a handful of actresses/actors who have ever won what has become known as the Triple Crown of Acting. She’s won an Academy Award , an Emmy, as well as a Tony Award.
Helen can work it and twerk it.
During a guest appearance on Live with Kelly & Michael , Helen let the word in on yet another one of her hidden talents — twerking. According to Michael Strahan, who considers himself an expert in the field, Helen can twerk with the best of them.
She’s a devil in the sheets.
There’s a commonly held misconception that sex stops after a person turns 60. According to Helen Mirren, not only is she still as frisky as she ever was, but sex has only gotten better as she’s gotten older.
There has only been one role in Helen’s illustrious career that has eluded her.
It seems almost impossible that any role could elude an actress as talented and formidable as Helen Mirren. But during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert , she informed the host that she always wanted to play Juliet in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” but was never once asked.
She has a soft spot for Shakespeare.
Helen credits seeing a performance of William Shakespeare’s ” Hamlet ” as one of the most transformative experiences of her entire life. She believes that children shouldn’t be allowed to read Shakespeare until they first see a live play performed.
Helen was voted “Sexiest Older Woman in the World.”
The poll asked 1000 people to name who they thought to be the “Most sensational woman over the age of 60.” Not surprisingly, Helen took home the top spot by beating out the likes of Sofia Loren, Goldie Hawn, and Susan Sarandon.
Helen once had to fight off a bear that’d wandered into her backyard.
Helen was at home working in her garden when a large Black bear wandered in to say hello. Startled and taken aback, she began yelling and shooing the beast to “go away.” A decision that she says she regrets.
Her favorite band is Radiohead.
When Helen was due to receive the Berlinale’s Golden Bear Lifetime Achievement Award, she arrived at the ceremony wearing a black studded jacket. Emblazoned on the back, just below the neck, was the Union Jack with the words ” Karma Police ” written underneath.
Helen has a huge crush on ‘Fast And The Furious’ star, Vin Diesel.
During an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers , Helen professed her love for the iconic film franchise, as well as its star — Vin Diesel. It was this admission of love that inevitably lead her to land a role in F9 .
