Royal Watch News

Helen Mirren to play Queen Elizabeth again

Jun 11, 2012, 12:01 GMT

Helen Mirren

Dame Helen Mirren is set to play Queen Elizabeth again.

The 66-year-old has already portrayed the British monarch three times but has now been approached to take on the role in a new West End play.

Peter Morgan, who also wrote 'The Queen' for which Helen won an Oscar wants her to once again portray the royal in the show which will be directed by Stephen Daldry.

Morgan told the Sunday Times: 'There's this mystique and it's that which I find fascinating.'

The production is due to be staged at the start of next year.

Helen is a huge fan of Queen Elizabeth and says she is actually 'charming and funny' and is nothing like her serious public persona.

She said: 'She does laugh. She makes jokes. She twinkles.

'I met her once in a fairly relaxed situation at a polo match. She was charming and funny, not at all the serious person we think of. There's someone else in there and I was desperate to bring that to the screen when I played her.'

Queen Elizabeth has just celebrated her Diamond Jubilee after 60 years on the throne.