National Treasure opens to fine reviews, box office

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

raked in $45.5 million, according to studio estimates. It eclipsed most analysts' expectations by about $5 million and was an easy winner in a busy pre-Christmas weekend.

"National Treasure: Book of Secrets" is fun. The actors are clearly having fun working together in a project which takes itself seriously yet not too seriously. Jon Voight and Mirren have perhaps the most fun in their arguments with each other, using the others words as a catalyst for a new disagreement. Despite the fact they haven´t seen other in 32 years, there is still a level of deep respect and love between the two; both actors embrace the idea--as well as the mad cap plot-by not trying to "act" for the camera. Instead, they are real people as real people might act in their situation." - Jason P. Vargo, DVDTown.

Woman and Home

Helen Mirren is on the cover of the January 2008 issue of woman&home magazine. An edited version of the interview is posted online here.

Inkheart trailer released

The long-anticipated trailer for Helen Mirren's upcoming film Inkheart can be seen here:

The film is set to be released in the US on March 19, 2008

Waterstone's: Meet Helen Mirren and Quentin Tarantino

HOLLYWOOD stars Quentin Tarantino and Dame Helen Mirren will be visiting Waterstone’s flagship Piccadilly store over the coming weeks to sign copies of their new books.

Waterstone’s invites you to come and meet Dame Helen Mirren, the internationally acclaimed actress, when she will be in store to sign her new illustrated memoir.

In the Frame: My Life in Words and Pictures by Helen Mirren– a fascinating account of over 40 years of success on stage and screen, with stunning photos. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Friday, September 21, 2007 at 5PM

Back-to-back Emmy wins for Helen Mirren

"I'm going to keep talking until that very dramatic music begins - I love that!". With these words, Helen Mirren accepted her second Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie for her portrayal of Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect 7 - The Final Act. This is the first time anyone has won this category twice in a row. This is Helen's 4th Emmy win out of 10 nominations.

The mini-series itself was nominated for Outstanding Miniseries, but was trumped by Broken Trail.

Director Philip Martin scored in the category: Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special. In his speech, he thanked Dame Helen for inspiring them all, and writer Frank Deasy took the prize for Outstanding Writing For A Miniseries.

Helen at British Embassy in Moscow

A kind visitor to our guestbook left a link to some photos of Helen at a party at the British Embassy in Moscow. See the photos here.

Emmy nominations for Mirren and Prime Suspect

Helen Mirren has been nominated for an Emmy in the category Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie for her role as Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect: The Final Act (PS7). The mini-series nabbed three nominations of its own for Outstanding Miniseries, Outstanding Writing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special (writer Frank Deasy), Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special (director Philip Martin).

And a little trivia:
If Helen wins, she'll be the first person ever to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie twice in a row!

If you haven't seen Prime Suspect 7, you can get it here:

Mirren criticizes BBC

- from an article for Digital Spy by Daniel Kilkelly

Dame Helen Mirren has described the BBC as a "disgrace" for releasing misleading footage of Queen Elizabeth.

The actress, who played Elizabeth II in the Oscar Award-winning movie "The Queen" last year, was shocked by the misleading trailer for its documentary "A Year With The Queen", which appeared to show the monarch storming out of a photo-shoot with photographer Annie Leibowitz.

Speaking to Sir David Frost on Al Jazeera English TV news, Mirren said that the corporation was "idiotic", adding: "The BBC should have known better. I think it was a disgrace."

The BBC has since apologized for its mistake.

Snapshots from my Life

Is the title for Helen Mirren's soon-to-be released memoir.

The book, published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson is due out this fall and can be pre-ordered from Amazon.com among other places.
Publisher's synopsis:

"This delightful memoir starts with contents of the trunk, with evocative pictures of Helen's Russian antecedents. She has kept a rich seam of photographs and memorabilia from her life, and her parents, family life, childhood, teenage and early years as an actress living in insalubrious flats are vividly documented. Helen's many distinguished roles in theatre, cinema and television and the illustrious men and women she has encountered are commemorated, as well as her forays into Hollywood and her subsequent life in the US with her husband, film director Taylor Hackford. Golden Globe and Oscar ceremonies make their appearance, as do many stunning images of Helen by the world's leading photographers. "

ISBN: 9780297851974

Mirren in Gaza

Helen Mirren is set to star in a new film set in the strife-torn Gaza Strip. Mirren will portray one of the few Jewish women left in the Strip. Her daughter, a journalist, is having a relationship with a Palestinian but is shot and killed.

"It's much more a human interest story rather than a political one," said Andy Harries whose company, Left Bank Pictures, is making Gaza.
"The movie is inspired by events in Gaza and not by any particular real incident." Frank Deasy, the scriptwriter who wrote the final Prime Suspect, and Philip Martin, the director, were due in Gaza in April to continue their research. But the kidnapping of Alan Johnston, the BBC correspondent, has made it too dangerous. Instead the filming will take place in Jordan.

"Helen and Taylor Dig Our Duds!"

The fun and enthusiastic owners of clothing company Livi'n Out Loud, rejoiced when they learned that Helen Mirren and husband Taylor Hackford liked the Liv'n Out Loud t-shirts they received in their Sundance Film Festival gift bags. The liked them so much that they

immediately ordered several shirts for themselves and their friends. Apparently following the motto "If it's good enough for Hel and Tay it's good enough for us" the members of the Helen Mirren Appreciation Society flooded Liv'n Out Loud with orders. It seems that the HMAS is a miny force of nature economically speaking, something that the group has demonstrated many times in its 10-year history with coordinated donations to Oxfam, support of an LA homeless center, ongoing support of the HMAS website, impromptu travel grants for needy members so that they can attend Helen Mirren plays and get-togethers and more.

New website design

The third makeover of the HMAS website was started today. Made possible by the generous donations by several members, particularly Harrison, and to tireless tester, our MirrenTalk and photo moderator Nadine. Special thanks to them, to Anne Petree and Elaine for film reviews and all the others who contributed material and support.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you - The Queen!"

With these words, Dame Helen accepted the Academy award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in Stephen Frear's The Queen.

Third time was indeed a charm as Helen's Oscar win comes after two nominations (for The Madness of King George and Gosford Park) and decades of outstanding performances.
The warmest congratulations from the Helen Mirren Appreciation Society!

Bafta jewel in royal crown

Helen Mirren continues gobbling up awards like PacMan does dots, adding a Bafta for Best Actress to her collection of prizes for the leading role performance in The Queen. Stephen Frears film also won the British Academy of Film and Television Award for best film.

Helen wins Golden Globe for Elizabeth I and II

Competing against herself (for Prime Suspect) Helen Mirren won the award for best performance by an actress in a mini-series or motion picture made for television.

Later in the evening the Hollywood Foreign Press tapped Helen once again, this time for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama for The Queen. The Queen's writer Peter Morgan won for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture.