Helen Mirren

HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano really admire the British actress Helen Mirren, and so they have no qualms about gushing over her in this podcast episode. Although Mirren had a solid background as a stage actress and made her screen debut as far back as 1967, she finally broke through to greater critical and popular recognition in the 1980s and 1990s. What really made her famous was her portrayal of detective Jane Tennison in the 1990s TV series "Prime Suspect." That character was the perfect showcase for this smart and self-confident actor. When Marie and Mike discuss her subsequent movie career, they strongly agree that her greatest role is as Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen" (2006). Indeed, she won the Academy Award as Best Actress for that role. As Marie points out, Helen Mirren has played other royal characters and, for that matter, officially is a Dame.