The Bikini that shook the world

Jaws dropped all over the world as a photograph of Helen Mirren in a red bikini, first published in Britain's Daily Mail newspaper last week, was reprinted in newspapers and on websites everywhere. Mirren turns 63 on Saturday.

Vicki Woods writes

:

"The dazzling sight of Helen Mirren frolicking in her red bikini in this week’s papers gave an awful lot of women an awful lot to think about. I imagine for the most part, their thoughts were like mine - one-tenth admiring and nine-tenths green with envy and self-digust"

HMAS member Barrie Smith, 61, from South Carolina was contacted by a producer for BBC Live Five to participate in a segment where a panel of various cultural "experts" discussed the idea of people finding a 60-something woman attractive in a bikini. "I firmly believe that Helen Mirren has caused a paradigm shift" says Barrie. "There are an awful lot of women who need an example, a role model" - and Helen seems to set the bar for beauty, irrespective of age.

Helen as wife of Leo Tolstoy

Helen Mirren will portray the wife of Leo Tolstoy in a forthcoming biopic about the great Russian writer entitled The Last Station.

Helen is to star as Sofia Tolstoy opposite Christopher Plummer, who has been cast as the War and Peace author. They replace Meryl Streep and Anthony Hopkins, who had previously been announced in the roles.

The Last Station will describe the tumultuous final year in the life of Tolstoy and his troubled marriage. The movie will be directed by Michael Hoffman, who previously shot the 1999 film adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream and the 1995 costume drama Restoration. The production is an adaptation of the eponymous 1990 book by Jay Parini and begins filming in Germany next week.

Helen's jumper on charity auction

Read more and bid here
PRESS RELEASE
Dame Helen Mirren donates T-shirt to auction for deafblind charity.

Do you fancy wearing clobber from your favourite stars, but think that stealing clothes from their washing lines takes fan-dom too far? Or do you have a lust for the celebrity look but don’t quite have the wallet-power to match?

Step forward national deafblind charity Sense with a surprise pop-up celebrity charity boutique from March 4th –7th.

Dame Helen Mirren is just one of the many stars who has donated an item of clothing.  

Plus Dame Judi Dench, Kevin Spacey, Ewan McGregor, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Graham Norton, Corinne Bailey Rae and Roisin Murphy have also donated their favourite clothing items to raise money for people who are both deaf and blind.

Jane Arnell from Sense says: “When we asked show-business’ finest to give us the clothes off their backs – they literally did. Their clothes will become a charity auction with a difference. All the celeb items will be displayed instore, so you can check out the gear for yourself at 70 Marchmont Street London WC1 N1AB (two mins from Russell Square tube).
Or even easier visit

www.stores.ebay.co.uk/sense-clothing

and bid online.”

And if all that isn’t enough there are many other bargains in store to buy. Fab gear donated by Alexander McQueen, Helmut Lang, Harrods, Selfridges, Frost French, Coast, BHS will ensure that you too can dress like an A-lister. All non-celebrity items can be bought instore - there\'s no need to bid.

Helen Mirren SAG Award Gown and Shoes in Online Charity Auction

Helen Mirren's SAG Award Gown and Jimmy Choo SAG Award shoes and other celebrity items are currently up for auction to raise money for children's charities. Check out
www.clothesoffourback.org to bid on the clothes through March 17.

BBC Helen MIrren DVD Collection

The BBC has released "Helen Mirren at the BBC", a must-own for Helen Mirren fans. Includes some titles that have never been seen by HMAS members! It is available here:

UK region 2: from

www.bbcshop.com

or any good retailer.
US region 1: from BBC America

This elegantly packaged 6 disc box set celebrates her work with the BBC and contains 11 adaptations and films dating back to 1974.

Click on the link to read HMAS original reviews, notes, reader comments and photos from the individual pieces:

• The Changling (1974)
• The Apple Cart George Bernard Shaw’s political satire (1975)
• Caesar and Claretta (1975)
• The Philanthropist (1975)
• The Little Minister, by JM Barrie (author of Peter Pan) (1975)
• The Country Wife William Wycherley’s comedy (1977)
• Blue Remembered Hills Dennis Potter’s BAFTA- winning drama (1979)
• Mrs Reinhardt (1981)
• A Midsummer Night's Dream (1981)
• Cymbeline (1983)
• The Hawk (1995)

Extras include an exclusively shot interview with Helen talking about the films in this fabulous collection and a clip of her appearance on TV talk show Parkinson from 1975.

Helen Doodle's

The Helen MIrren Appreciation Society received this message that we are happy to pass on:

I don't know if you are aware that Helen has done a doodle for National Doodle Day and it, along with about 300 other celebrity doodles, will be auctioned on eBay starting Friday, 7th March.

I am sure she would like to raise as much money as possible for the two charities concerned in the event and wondered if there is any way that information could be put on your website - together with a link to ours at

www.nationaldoodleday.org.uk

- so all her fans can see what she has done for the event and also have the opportunity to bid for her drawing.

With many thanks

Regards

Roberta Tweedy
6 St Mary’s Road
Sindlesham RG41 5DA
Tel:  077 69 65 72 72

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