From the age of 13, when she played Caliban in a school production of "The Tempest, Helen Mirren knew she wanted to be an actress. Despite her working-class upbringing and her parents who scoffed at the very idea Mirren emerged to become one of the most celebrated, decorated and revered British actress of her time. With a combination of poise, confidence, intelligence and undeniable sex appeal, Mirren became famous for her challenging performances on stage and screen that often included removing her clothes, a public exhibition that sometimes stood in the way of her work. [F]or a long time it was very hard for people to see past my physical outward appearance. I was a blond girl with big tits. I hated that image, she once said to The New Yorker. Nonetheless, Mirren turned in exquisite performances on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, before making a name in film and on television. But true stardom eluded her until she landed what became her signature role, playing a police inspector battling sexism and a troubled personal life in Prime Suspect (PBS, 1990), a role she returned to with frequency throughout the years. Mirren then reached the top of her game in 2006 when she won a slew of awards including an Oscar for her complex portrayal of Elizabeth II in The Queen (2006). Not only did Mirren affirm her status as a high-caliber actress, but she proudly relished the renewed attention to her allure, which aroused a new generation of fans accustomed to actresses less than half her age.
Born Helen Lydia Mironoff on July 26, 1946 in Chiswick, England, Mirren was raised in Ilford and Southend-on-Sea by her Russian
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