Dame Helen Mirren, who was seen behind the wheel of a Land Rover while playing the title role in The Queen, told Elle she had “always rather loved driving”.
“Film is a wonderful thing and it can be so many different things”, the Oscar-winner went on, saying she had accepted the role in Fast 8 “for the fun of it”.
So what still drives her relentless energy and enthusiasm for such a varied portfolio?
In the Makers video series, Helen Mirren talks about her childhood in Britain, the influence of her feminist parents, what first sparked her interest in acting, and how she became one of the most celebrated British actresses in a career spanning five decades.
Born in London, England, Mirren first took an interest in theatre when she watched an amateur production of Hamlet at the age of 13. Despite being “squeezed” by the pressure to be and do what was expected of her as a woman at the time, Helen followed her passion with the help of her teacher.
Shortly after her time with the National Youth Theatre, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) where she succeeded for four years before touring Africa and America with Peter Brook’s Centre de Recherche Théâtral.
Though her dream of acting began on stage in theatrical productions, Helen eventually graced the big and little screens in a variety of award-winning roles. Starting with her roles in Age of Consent (1969) and Behind the Scenes (1972), and leading to Collateral Beauty [2016] and Phil Specter (2013).
Helen’s career has made her a renowned and respected international actress, as well as an outspoken advocate for gender diversity in film.
“It used to make me so angry watching fellow actresses struggling to find work – it was so annoying…enraging,” she shares in this candid clip.
