Hail Helen and rule Britannia for the female Oscar® race

By Stone Martindale Sep 12, 2006, 3:15 GMT

British actress Helen Mirren shows the Volpi Cup after being awarded as best actress for her performance in the film "The Queen" by Stephen Frears at 63rd International Exhibition of Cinema Art, better known as Venice Film Festival, Saturday 09 September 2006. Gorgeous and so talented! EPA/CLAUDIO ONORATI

The Oscar buzz is on, and Hollywood insiders are talking about one leggy Brit in particular.  Dame Helen Mirren is one of the front-runners in the best actress stakes.

Cynthia Swartz, New York based film awards analyst told the UK Daily Mail: “The actress section is the most competitive in years and for now, Helen's in front."

Mirren won best actress for her performance of Elizabeth II in the movie The Queen at the Venice Film Festival.

The film opens Friday in the UK, and also took the best screenplay honor for writer Peter Morgan whose screenplay details the Royal Family reaction to the death of Princess Diana. 

Winning in Venice has proven to be an Oscar predictor, deftly sussing the wins in the best actress category in years past.   Imelda Staunton won the best actress statuette two years ago for the film Vera Drake and went on to garner an Academy Award nomination.

"It's like having your passport stamped: Proceed to Oscar,” Swartz predicted. "It's going to be the year of the grand British dames," Swartz declared to the Daily Mail.

Along with her acting chops, Mirren has always been known for her knock-out figure, and on Saturday night's award's gala she flaunted it in flowing midnight blue silk chiffon from the British design team of Caroline Eavis and Annie Brown who also design for Halle Berry among others.

Mirren was escorted by filmmaker and husband Taylor Hackford, and donned a Bulgari necklace in diamonds and white gold reportedly worth millions.