Dame Helen Mirren famously played the Queen in the hit 2006 movie - and it's led to a number of hilarious and awkward encounters with the royal family over the years. The Hollywood actress confessed she once 'embarrased' herself with an awkward gaffe while having tea with Her Majesty and she panicked over making conversation.
It all began when Dame Helen was cast in the titular role in the Queen, leading her to question whether she was allowed to portray a living monarch. Due to their similar appearances and resting facial expression, Dame Helen said transforming herself into the Queen came almost naturally once the wig and glasses were on.
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As well as watching old video footage of Her Majesty, the actress had extensive voice coaching to perfect the voice and kept photographs in her trailer.
Dame Helen was said to be so convincing that crew members would stand up straight with their arms behind their back to address her.
The film, which is airing tonight on ITV at 8pm, depicts the death of Princess Diana in 1997 and how the royal family's popularity plummeted before they agreed to a public funeral for the 'People's Princess'.
Dame Helen realised she was dealing with a very sensitive moment in the Queen's life, so decided she would contact her to put her feelings across.
The actress told Radio Times : "I realised we were investigating a profoundly painful part of her life, so I wrote to her. How do you write to your Queen? Was it Madam, or Your Highness, or Your Majesty?
"I said: 'We are doing this film. We are investigating a very difficult time in your life. I hope it's not too awful for you'.
"I can't remember how I put it. I just said that in my research I found myself with a growing respect for her, and I just wanted to say that. She didn't write back, of course, but her secretary did.
"You know, 'Yours sincerely, da di da di da,' on behalf of the Queen. I was very relieved subsequently that I had written that letter."
While Dame Helen didn't get a direct response from Her Majesty and doesn't know if she ever saw the film, she believes she is aware of the movie and thinks it went down quite well.
"At the time, it had never been done before, playing the queen. It was quite nerve-racking because I didn’t know—no one knew—how the public would receive it, let alone the establishment in Britain," she told The Hollywood Reporter In February.
"But I got the sense that it had been seen and that it had been appreciated. I’ve never heard directly, and I never will."
Speaking on Good Morning Britain in 2019, Dame Helen revealed she had worked closely with Prince Charles while launching the Prince's Trust Mentor of the Year Award.
They never mentioned her performance as his mother, with the actress saying the future king is "very tactful", but she has been teased about the role by Prince Harry.
"Harry and William, have mentioned it to me and they have been very funny and very cool about it," Dame Helen confessed.
"I was at an awards ceremony and Harry said, 'And granny is here' and I was rather insulted by that. I mean, really," she jokingly added.
Dame Helen also had an awkward experience when she was invited for tea with The Queen - and ended up talking "gobbledygook".
Having previously met in a room with 200 other people, the actress was shocked to be escorted into a room of just eight people, including the Queen herself and her late husband Prince Philip.
"So I walk in, and there’s like eight people sitting around a table. Prince Philip, the Queen, a Sheik of somewhere or other and a couple of horsey people," explained the actress.
"I know absolutely nothing about horses, at all, and the Queen knows everything about horses."
Dame Helen began to panic as she "desperately tried to make polite conversation" and then struggled to get some milk for her tea.
She continued: "The milk is on the other side of Prince Philip and I want some milk in my tea, but my brain goes completely dead and I cannot remember how to address Prince Philip."
"Is it rude to ask him to pass the milk? Or should I just ask for a lackey?
"I finished up not having any milk. I just couldn't sort it out. It's a lesson in embarrassment, but they were lovely, they were utterly gracious."
Dame Helen has always been a fan of Meghan Markle and claimed she was a fantastic addition to the family.
"I think right from the moment that relationship was revealed she conducted herself with incredible self-restraint, elegance, discipline and simplicity and humanity," she said on GMB.
"I was an admirer... it’s an incredibly difficult life to lead, talk about pressure. I think she is doing it with great elegance."
In 2020, Dame Helen said she 'applauds' Harry and Meghan's decision to step down as senior royals and claimed they would be a massive loss to the public.
"I think their instincts are absolutely right, and I applaud them for it. Hugely actually. Of course, it is complicated," she told Variety.
Meghan Markle was a fantastic addition to the royal family - charming, did everything right, was gracious, was sweet-natured, and seemed to be ... Wow! What a lovely addition. Didn't seem to be neurotic...
"So, I think it is a loss in a way, but at the same time I think their instincts are absolutely correct."
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