Backstage at the Oscars with Helen Mirren: The press interview

By M&C Movie News Feb 27, 2007, 22:09 GMT

Q. Lovely as always.

A. Hi.

Q. Listen, forgive me. You did a couple of Elizabeths. One of them ended up on public television.

A. No, HBO.

Q. HBO. Prime Suspect is very much public television. Tell me, if you will, about the importance of doing roles outside of film that then get you things, something like The Queen, if you will.

A. Well, that was a great year's work, but I have to say that I think the roles that really bring you to this point for me are probably the theater work that I do. But I had an amazing year where I did Elizabeth I, I had two weeks off and then I did Elizabeth II and had about a month off and then I did Prime Suspect. So that was really an incredible year, and I have to say I'm reaping the rewards right now. It's fantastic.

Q. First we want to know what's in the drink.

A. Vodka. Rose's Lime, you know, very British.

Q. And secondly, can you tell me just about the dress and why youpicked this one for tonight?

A. I’m wearing a dress by Christian Lacroix and it was made for me and built for me, and I have to say it's the most comfortable thing I've ever worn. It's as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside, and I really do feel like a queen or fairy princess or fairy godmother, really. I love it.

Q. How are you going to celebrate?

A. I'm going to be with my husband -- all my family. I've got a big posse with me; all my nephews and their wives and my sister and, of course, my beloved, beloved husband who has made it all possible for me, honestly.

Q. Way in the back here, Helen. Way to your right.

A. I don't know my right from my left. My right. See you, darling, thank you.

Q. Clear Channel, congratulations. And which is more difficult in terms of a role, a fictional one that you create or a real-life person upon whom you might be compared?

A. Well, you know, they each have their challenges, that's for sure. I mean, playing a real-life person that everybody is so familiar with and yet doesn't know at all was very - I was very, very nervous before I started filming. Once I started filming I was fine, but the idea of it was very intimidating. I mean, there are other real-life people I've played that people know but don't quite know. But Elizabeth, Queen of England, is such a familiar person to the world, so identifiable, it was a very intimidating prospect.

Q. But so well done.

A. Thank you.

Q. Hi. For weeks people have been saying that it's pretty much a shoo-in you were going to win tonight. What were you feeling going in tonight?

A. I felt quite calm. I mean, I felt quite calm because it's not to say I didn't care, I cared very much, but I did -- I honestly felt so deeply honored to be nominated in a year where there were great performances from women. And that's not always the case, not in the sense that they're not great actresses out there, but they're very often not the great roles for the great actresses to play, and therefore, it's quite difficult to find a leading actress nomination. This year, though, there were wonderful performances in beautifully written roles. So to be nominated amongst those was a huge honor and I just -- just to be here, honestly, was everything for me. To win, it's -- win, it's just such a silly word, you know. We're not athletes. It is great, but the best thing is just to be here.

Q. But did you think you were going to win?

A. I didn't allow that thought, no. I didn't go there. I didn’t go there.

Q. Congratulations. (In French)?

A. (In French)

Q. (In French)?

A. (In French)

Q. (In French)?

A. (In French)

Q. Dame Mirren, congratulations to you.

A. Where are you, darling?

Q. How do you do? After so many fantastic British nominations and previous best actress for BAFTA, how are you feeling being a really big winner?

A. I don't think I'm our only big winner. I think we won big time this year, the British talent, but -- in their recognition. For all of us to be here is amazing; it is amazing. And who away with this, you know, it's wonderful, but it's not the most important thing. What is incredibly important, and I think very generous of the American Film Academy -- of the Academy and of the American people is recognizing us, recognizing the Spanish and the Mexican film makers tonight. The recognition of film is getting more global, and I think that's an amazing thing.

Q. Hi.

A. Hi there.

Q. Congratulations.

A. Yeah, isn't it great?

Q. That's right.

A. Do you like the dress?

Q. Hey, it's pretty good. Tell me this. It's a great triumph for you personally and for the film. Are you expecting a call from Her Majesty from Buckingham Palace? And also, tell me how you're going to celebrate and what your tipple of choice is.

A. My tipple of choice is the one I've got right here, a vodka gimlet. And no, I'm not expecting a call from Her Majesty and not ever, and I wouldn't expect it, I wouldn't desire it. I think it's wonderful that I live in a country that allows us to make a film like this, and there's many countries in the world that one would not be allowed to make this film. And I think it's generous of the royal family and Her Majesty the Queen to sit back and not interfere, and I think it's very gracious and very noble of her. And I do believe she is a noble person in the best possible sense of the word, which is nothing to do with class but is all to do with spirit.