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.

Critics' Circle Award for Distinguised Service to the Arts

Each year since 1988 The Critics' Circle has presented an award for Distinguished Service to the Arts, voted for by all members of the Circle, embracing Dance, Drama, Film, Music, Visual Arts and Architecture.

At a celebratory luncheon on 10th April 2007 in the National Theatre's Terrace Restaurant, the award for 2006 was presented to Dame Helen Mirren. As David Gritten, chairman of the Film section made clear, the decision to make the award was voted on in November 2006, well in advance of the awards hubbub that surrounded her performance in The Queen.

Accepting the award, an engraved crystal rose bowl, Mirren described it as the most useful she has ever received, while reflecting poignantly that this now "might be the last award I will win in my life. It has been a most incredible year. You do the work and then....."

Previous recipients include Sir Peter Hall (1988), Dame Judi Dench (1997) and Ian McKellen (2003).

Queen Helen takes the Emmy!

For outstanding actress in a mini-series or movie, Helen Mirren received the Emmy, her third in nine nominations, for Elizabeth I. Elizabeth i received nine awards in total: best actress, best supporting actor for Jeremy Irons, best director, best mini-series, casting, art direction, editing, costumes and hair styling.

Helen receives honorary degree

Hollywood star and former Essex schoolgirl Helen Mirren has received an honorary degree from Essex University.

She accepted the honorary doctorate at a graduation ceremony attended by students from the literature, film and theatre studies department as well as those from Loughton's East 15 Acting School, which was made part of the university three years ago. In her acceptance speech, Dame Helen said she was delighted with the honour and congratulated the students.

Afterwards, she told the Evening Gazette how pleased she was that she had been singled out for the honour. She said: "I am proud to be the bearer of the badge Essex girl and I am delighted to have got this award."

Mirren to reprise <i>Prime Suspect</i> role

Dame Helen Mirren is set to reprise her role as DS Jane Tennison for Prime Suspect 7! The last installment of the ITV crime drama had 9 million viewers.
Scripts are being written for a new two-part drama, reports The Sun. An ITV spokeswoman told the paper that Helen was keen to go ahead.

HMAS Founder Peter Wright dies

Founder Peter Wright died suddenly on May 22, 2004. The Helen Mirren Appreciation Society sends our deepest sympathies to Peter's family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

Dame Helen's investiture today

Helen Mirren has been invested as a dame during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. After receiving her honour from Prince Charles, the 58-year-old star said: "It is just the greatest theatre I have ever been in."

Dame Helen, daughter of an exiled Russian aristocrat, said she had never believed she would receive the award. "It was just lovely. I just felt my mouth go ever so slightly dry. I just thought, 'Don't be so silly'. I am incredibly proud. I am amazed."
Dame Helen was accompanied by her husband, US director Taylor Hackford, her sister Kate Mirren and her grandniece Natasha Fitzgerald.