Helen Mirren

Helen spent a night in a brothel in preparation for her role in Love Ranch, in which she plays the owner of Nevada's first legalised brothel, The Mustang Ranch. Helen didn't want to go, but her husband Taylor Hackford, who is directing the film, insisted she do so.

In 2008, Dame Helen donated a signed copy of Suite Francais by Irene Nemirovsky for it to be auctioned off; other books were donated by Sir Ian McKellen, Sir David Jason and Gary Lineker. The proceed of the auction went to the charity Book Aid International which raises money to develop literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Helen was ranked #39 in Glamour's "The 50 most glamorous women of '08" list

Helen was voted in at #3 in a poll conducted by AntiBloat's to find the 'Sexiest Celebrity Stomachs' in July 2008.

Helen has been nominated for seven SAG Awards. In 2000 she was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for The Passion of Ayn Rand. In 2002 she won both Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role and Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Gosford Park. In 2003 she was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for Door to Door. In 2004 she was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone. In 2007 she won Outstanding Performane by a Female Actor in Leading Role for The Queen and Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for Elizabeth 1.

At the 2007 Primetime Emmy Awards, Helen won Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie for her role as Jane Tennison in PBS' Prime Suspects.

Helen was chosen as one of People Magazine's annual 100 Most Beautiful People in the World, Beauty over 60, in May 2007.

Helen became the third person, after Joan Plowright and Sigourney Weaver, to win two Golden Globes for acting in the same year.

Helen Mirren dedicated her BAFTA win for The Queen to Ian Richardson for playing a huge part in her success story. She said that Richardson was very supportive towards her when she started out acting, and without him she may not have been so successful. The dedication came two days after he died.

Helen's nickname is Popper.

Helen has lived in Los Angeles since 1986.

John Boorman said he cast Helen opposite Nicol Williamson in the film Excalibur, against both of their protests, because he felt their dislike of each other made them perfect as rivals Morgana and Merlin.

Helen has portrayed an English Queen three times; Queen Charlotte in The Madness of King George, Elizabeth I in Elizabeth I, and Elizabeth II in The Queen .

In January 2007 Dame Helen Mirren was voted the world's sexiest older woman. Helen, 61, topped the list of female stars who have passed 50 years old.

In 2000, Helen appeared in a TV commercial for Virgin airlines.

On January 24th, 2007, bookmakers revealed Helen Mirren was the shortest favourite in the history of the Oscars to win the Best Actress award for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in the film, The Queen. Update: The company, 'William Hill bookmakers' has closed the book on Dame Helen Mirren winning a best actress Oscar in 2007. If she wins, the bookmaker will be paying out over $110,000 to people who have backed her.

Helen is married to director and producer Taylor Hackford since December 1997.

Helen was a member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 2004.

At the premiere of The Queen at the Venice Film Festival, Helen's performance as Queen Elizabeth II received a 5 minute standing ovation.

Even though she is of Russian heritage and has a Russian birth name, Helen does not speak fluent Russian.

Entertainment Weekly ranked Helen #2 on it's list of "Entertainers of the Year for 2006".

Helen was invested as a Dame Commander of the British Empire on 5 December 2003, even though in 1996 she had declined a CBE.

Helen appeared nude in the film The Calendar Girls.

Mirren was raised by a very liberal, anti-monarchist family. Her father was a socialist.

Helen used to date former Excalibur co-star Liam Neeson.

Helen appeared in a TV commercial for Marks & Spencer in 2004.

Helen appeared in the "Sport at Heart" promo for London's bid to host the 2012 Olympic games.

Helen's great-great-great-great-grandfather was Field-Marshal Kamensky, one of the Russian heroes of the Napoleonic wars.

Helen is an Associate Member of RADA.