Helen Mirren, Judi Dench and Benedict Cumberbatch among stars set for Shakespeare anniversary show

BELFAST TELEGRAPH

With an audience including the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) will bring together acclaimed actors from David Suchet to Dame Judi Dench for a one-night extravaganza of Shakespeare-inspired works spanning genres from hip-hop to opera.

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Shakespeare Live! will be hosted by David Tennant at the RSC's theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The latest names to sign up to mark the Bard's death on April 23 include actors John Lithgow, Anthony Sher and Anne-Marie Duff, comedians Tim Minchin and Rufus Hound, and the cast of Horrible Histories, with music from The Shires and the Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/mirren-and-cumberbatch-among-stars-set-for-shakespeare-anniversary-show-34613987.html

(Tom Hiddleston, Matthew Macfadyen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Helen Mirren, Ralph Fiennes, David Tennant...) 12 British Actors Reading Shakespeare for Shakespeare Day

ANGLOPHENIA BBC AMERICA
By Fraser McAlpine | Posted on April 23rd, 2015


Tom Hiddleston (Pic: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

British actors have a particularly strong relationship with the works of Shakespeare, as they’ll have studied his plays when honing their stagecraft and possibly discovered some of their best thespian tricks while working out how to tackle Polonius or Caliban at a tender age.

So, as it’s Shakespeare Day and we love actors who love reading Shakespeare, here they are doing that very thing, starting with Tom Hiddleston reading the “if music be the food of love” speech from Twelfth Night:

And now, Dame Helen Mirren reading from Anthony & Cleopatra, in a special clip for BBC Newsnight. She has played the title role on stage three times, at the National Youth Theatre in 1965, for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1983, and at the National Theatre in 1998:

Or, for people with short attention spans, here’s David Tennant reading a collection of Shakespeare’s greatest hits in verse, performing “Sonnet 2,” “Sonnet 7,” “Sonnet 9,” “Sonnet 17,” “Sonnet 18,” “Sonnet 11,” “Sonnet 14″ and “Sonnet 154:”

Continuing the theatrical metaphors from earlier, here’s Benedict Cumberbatch reading “The Seven Ages of Man” speech from As You Like It, which contains some wonderful descriptive moments, ripe for reuse, including “mewling and puking” and “the lean and slippered pantaloon”:

Poor Matthew Macfadyen is feeling a bit down in the dumps because he’s not a success in his chosen field. This bothers him enough to start reciting the apposite “Sonnet 29″ in a cafe, until, just at the point at which the poet reminds him of his true love, she appears. Then everything is right as rain:

READ MORE HERE: http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2015/04/12-british-actors-reading-shakespeare-for-shakespeare-day/

Newly engaged Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter put on an affectionate display at Moet British Independent Film Awards

MAIL ON LINE
By COLETTE FAHY FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 15:13 EST, 7 December 2014 | UPDATED: 19:33 EST, 7 December 2014



He only announced his engagement last month and things just keep getting better for Benedict Cumberbatch.

Just a few days after his casting as Marvel’s Doctor Strange was announced, the 38-year-old actor walked the red carpet at the Moet British Independent Film Awards at Old Billingsgate Market on Sunday with his beautiful fiancee Sophie Hunter.

Another highlight of Benedict's skyrocketing career came as he was due to be presented with the Variety Award, which recognises a talent who has helped to focus the international spotlight on the UK, at the annual bash, so it's not surprising Sophie was present to cheer him on.

'She's proud of my work, she's proud of me, and she loves me,' he said. 'That's the bottom line, isn't it? That's one of the reasons it's a good fit. It could be a really difficult thing, but she's just so in command of it.'

However, while the star was open about his admiration for his future wife, he was mum on whether or not they'll be quick to start a family, saying: 'I've got to be very coy on that one. Very silent.'

But Benedict was keen to reassure fans that life does go on, now that he has become engaged to Sophie .


Pose for cameras: Benedict with Mark Strong and his Imitation Game co-star Keira following his win

READ MORE HERE: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2864599/Benedict-Cumberbatch-supported-glamorous-fiancee-Sophie-Hunter-prepares-receive-prestigious-Variety-prize-Moet-British-Independent-Film-Awards.html

Benedict Cumberbatch and Dame Helen Mirren lead starry cast presenting the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards

LONDON EVENING STANDARD
LOUISE JURY, CHIEF ARTS CORRESPONDENT
28 November, 2014



Stars including Dame Helen Mirren, Benedict Cumberbatch, Carey Mulligan and Eddie Redmayne will hand out the honours at the 60th London Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

It will be a night to remember as Sienna Miller, Sir Ian McKellen, American actress Anna Kendrick and Damian Lewis — the host of the 2013 ceremony — also turn out at the London Palladium on Sunday to honour fellow professionals.

Dame Helen, who was named best actress last year, will anoint this year’s best actor from among Tom Hiddleston, Ben Miles and Mark Strong.

And Idris Elba will present the Natasha Richardson Award for best actress from a line-up of five: Gillian Anderson, Helen McCrory, Tanya Moodie, Billie Piper and Kristin Scott Thomas.

The NOOK Award for best play will be presented by James McAvoy, who returns to the stage in January in The Ruling Class. And Cumberbatch, who jointly won best actor in Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein, will warm up for his stage return as Hamlet by revealing the recipient of an award given in the name of the Evening Standard’s owner, Evgeny Lebedev.


READ MORE HERE: http://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/benedict-cumberbatch-and-dame-helen-mirren-lead-starry-cast-presenting-the-london-evening-standard-theatre-awards-9889712.html

Benedict Cumberbatch to Receive Variety Award at BIFAs

VARIETY
Leo Barraclough

LONDON — Benedict Cumberbatch is to receive the Variety Award at the Moet British Independent Film Awards on Dec. 7 at Old Billingsgate, London.

The award recognizes a director, actor, writer or producer who has helped to put the international spotlight on the U.K. Paul Greengrass was given the award last year. Previous recipients include Jude Law, Kenneth Branagh, Liam Neeson, Daniel Craig and Helen Mirren.

Cumberbatch’s latest film, “The Imitation Game,” has been nominated in four categories at the British Independent Film Awards: British independent film; screenplay for Graham Moore; actress for Keira Knightley; and actor for Cumberbatch.

Cumberbatch commented: “I am delighted to receive this prestigious award, and would like to thank Variety and the Moet British Independent Film Awards for this incredible honor. It is made even more special by the recognition of ‘The Imitation Game’ in this year’s nominations, a film I am very proud to be a part of.”

Cumberbatch is best known for playing the title role of Sherlock Holmes in “Sherlock,” Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ adaption of the Arthur Conan Doyle books. The role won him an Emmy this year.

So far this year, Cumberbatch has been filming “Black Mass,” playing Bill Bulger alongside Johnny Depp, and Shere Khan in Andy Serkis’ “Jungle Book.” He is also part of the voicecast in DreamWorks Animation’s “Penguins of Madagascar,” which is released later this year.

He is currently shooting “The Hollow Crown” for the BBC and Neal Street Productions, in which he plays Richard III for director Dominic Cooper, and alongside Judi Dench.

Next he will shoot “Lost City of Z,” based on David Grann’s novel for director James Gray, where he will play British explorer Percy Fawcett, who set out to discover the City of Z in the Amazon in the 1920s.

READ MORE HERE: http://variety.com/2014/film/news/benedict-cumberbatch-to-receive-variety-award-at-bifas-1201355475/

Kate Middleton And The Queen 'Invite Benedict Cumberbatch To Party At Buckingham Palace' Reception will be held on February 17,

ENTERTAINMENTWISE
By Becca Longmire On February 7, 2014

 Kate Middleton is set to host a star-studded reception alongside the Queen (WENN)

Cate Blanchett, David Tennant, Sir David Attenborough and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes are also thought to be invited to the star-studded bash, that is being held in the honour of The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RDA), of which the Queen is patron.

According to Hello magazine, the Queen and Kate will greet an estimated 250 guests, including directors, producers, playwrights, teachers and actors, before enjoying a whole host of performances in the Palace's ballroom.

Other members of the royal family, including the Duke of Edinburgh, who will then meet the guests in the state rooms.


Read more at http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/140230/1/Kate-Middleton-And-The-Queen-Invite-Benedict-Cumberbatch-To-Party-At-Buckingham-Palace#PmWHizDQ1zx4uFZb.99

GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATIONS: Downton Abbey nominated for a Golden Globe

HELLO DAILY NEWS

Downton Abbey is in the running for a prestigious Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series.

Nominations for the Golden Globes, one of Hollywood's annual highlights, were announced on Thursday morning.

Leading lights from the industry will gather for the 71st annual ceremony on 12 January 2014 which will be hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for the second year running.

FILMS

Best Motion Picture – Drama
12 Years A Slave
Captain Phillips
Gravity
Philomena
Rush

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
American Hustle
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
The Wolf Of Wall Street

Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years A Slave
Idris Elba, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom
Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Robert Redford, All Is Lost

Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis
Joaquin Phoenix, Her

Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks
Kate Winslet, Labor Day

Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams, American Hustle
Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Enough Said
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

Best Supporting Actor
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Daniel Bruhl, Rush
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years A Slave
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Best Supporting Actress
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years A Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska

Best Director
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
Steve McQueen, 12 Years A Slave
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
David O. Russell, American Hustle

Best Screenplay
Spike Jonze, Her
Bob Nelson, Nebraska
Jeff Pope and Steve Coogan, Philomena
John Ridley, 12 Years A Slave
Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell, American Hustle

Best Original Score
All Is Lost
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Gravity
The Book Thief
12 Years A Slave

Best Original Song
Atlas, Coldplay (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
Let It Go, Idina Menzel (Frozen)
Ordinary Love, U2 (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
Please Mr. Kennedy, Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake and Adam Driver (Inside Llewyn Davis)
Sweet Than Fiction, Taylor Swift (One Chance)

Best Foreign Language Film
Blue is the Warmest Color
The Great Beauty
The Hunt
The Past
The Wind Rises

Best Animated Feature Film
The Croods
Despicable Me 2
Frozen

TV

Best Drama Series
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
The Good Wife
House of Cards
Masters of Sex

Best Actor in a Television Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Michael Sheen, Masters of Sex
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
James Spader, The Black List

Best Actress in a Television Drama Series
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Taylor Schilling, Orange is the New Black
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Best Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory
Brooklyn 99
Girls
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation

Best Actor in a Television Comedy Series
Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Michael J. Fox, The Michael J. Fox Show
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Andy Samberg, Brooklyn 99

Best Actress in a Television Comedy Series
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Amy Poehler

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
American Horror Story: Coven
Behind the Candelabra
Dancing on the Edge
Top of the Lake
White Queen

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
Matt Damon, Behind the Candelabra
Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing on the Edge
Idris Elba, Luther
Al Pacino, Phil Spector

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
Helena Bonham Carter, Burton and Taylor
Rebecca Ferguson, The White Queen
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven
Helen Mirren, Phil Spector
Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
Josh Charles, The Good Wife
Rob Lowe, Behind the Candelabra
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Corey Stoll, House of Cards
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for Television
Jacqueline Bisset, Dancing on the Edge
Janet McTeer, White Queen
Hayden Panettiere, Nashville
Monica Potter, Parenthood
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family


READ MORE HERE: http://www.hellomagazine.com/film/2013121216126/golden-globe-2014-nominations-downton-abbey/

James Corden and Benedict Cumberbatch lead the way as The Royal National Theatre celebrate 50 years on stage

MAIL ON LINE
By JASON CHESTER
PUBLISHED: 19:47 EST, 1 November 2013 | UPDATED: 03:53 EST, 2 November 2013



The Royal National Theatre celebrated its fiftieth anniversary on Saturday with a retrospective two-hour performance featuring an array of stars from stage and screen.

50 Years On Stage paid tribute to some of the historic venue’s finest moments during a two-hour compendium of live performances and archive footage, presided over by celebrated director Nichols Hyntner.

James Corden, Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch and Dame Helen Mirren were amongst a cast of 100 actors to take to the legendary stage, where pivotal scenes from a selection of The National’s highlights were performed.

Amongst these were The History Boys – the award winning Alan Bennett play that helped turn Corden into a star when it was first performed at the venue in 2004.

Benedict Cumberbatch also featured in scene from Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz And Guildenstern, while Dame Judi Dench made an appearance with Skyfall co-star Roy Kinnear for a segment from Shakespeare’s Anthony And Cleopatra.

Dame Helen Mirren, Derek Jacobi, Michael Gambon and Adrian Lester also performed at the event, which was performed in front of TV cameras and will be broadcast on BBC Two at 9pm on Saturday evening.

The Royal National Theatre first opened in 1963 under the stewardship of Sir Laurence Olivier.


READ MORE HERE: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2483935/James-Corden-Benedict-Cumberbatch-lead-way-The-Royal-National-Theatre-celebrate-50-years-stage.html

Emmy Awards British nominees: Dame Helen Mirren

RADIO TIMES
James Gill
8:00 AM, 22 September 2013



DAME HELEN MIRREN

Nominated for: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Mini series or Movie

Role: Linda Kenny-Baden in Phil Spector

Awards veteran Dame Helen Mirren is up for her tenth Emmy nomination for her role in HBO biopic Phil Spector.

Her first nomination came in 1994 for her role as DCI Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect; Mirren's won four awards since, the last coming in 2007 for (yes, again) Prime Suspect. Is current British export sensation Downton Abbey on the way to achieving that kind of longevity?

In Phil Spector, which aired in the UK on Sky Atlantic in June, she played Linda Kenney-Brown, defense attorney to music industry producer Phil Spector during his murder trial.

read more here: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-09-22/emmy-awards-british-nominees-dame-helen-mirren

Tom Hiddleston Girlfriend Jane Arthy Helping Him Break Into Music Business? ‘Avengers’ Star To Join Kanye West Protégé Mr Hudson In Studio?

(Photo : REUTERS/Eric Gaillard)

FASHION & STYLE

By Erika W. Smith , FashionnStyle Reporter   |   Aug 09, 2013 11:40 AM EDT

Tom Hiddleston may be about to head into the studio with Kanye West protégé Mr. Hudson - could Hiddleston’s girlfriend, record exec Jane Arthy, have something to do with this?

Star magazine reports that Mr. Hudson, an English singer-songwriter who signed to Kanye West’s GOOD Music label in 2008 and who has collaborated with West, wants to hire Tom Hiddleston and Helen Mirren to add their voices to his new album.

Mr. Hudson is currently working on his third album.

"I'm just looking at looking at getting some features and some different flavours - not just the usual 'call up a few rappers and try and get them on there,’” he said.

"I want to do, almost for the sake of having different textures, some actors speaking over the music. I'm really into that at the moment. Imagine having Helen Mirren or Tom Hiddleston doing that. I want some really British flavours as I'm known for working with Americans.

"Tom, if you're reading this, holla for the dolla!” he said.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.fashionnstyle.com/articles/10115/20130809/tom-hiddleston-girlfriend-jane-arthy-helping-break-music-business-avengers-star-join-kanye-west-protege-mr-hudson-studio.htm

Downton Abbey flies the flag for Brits with 12 nods at the Emmys... while Benedict Cumberbatch, Helen Mirren and Damian Lewis are also nominated (MAIL ON LINE) By EMILY SHERIDAN PUBLISHED: 09:13 EST, 18 July 2013 | UPDATED: 13:24 EST, 18 July 2013

Period drama Downton Abbey is leading the way for the Brits as this year's Emmy Awards, with 12 nominations.

The ITV series, which runs on PBS in the US, has received major nominations, including acting nods for stars Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Dame Maggie Smith and Jim Carter.

Hugh is up for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series for his performance as Earl of Grantham, while his on-screen daughter Michelle is up for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series as Lady Mary Crawley.

Creator Julian Fellowes has received a nod for Outstanding Writing In A Drama Series, while the show is also up for Directing and Best Drama Series.

Last year's Best Actor In A Drama Series Damian Lewis is up in the category again for the second year.

The Oscar winner has already won four Emmys already for Prime suspect, Elizabeth I and The Passion of Ayn Rand, her last win being in 1996.

Brits Toby Jones and Benedict Cumberbatch will go head-to-head in the Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie for The Girl and Parade's End respectively.

Toby's The Girl co-star Imelda Staunton, who played Alfred Hitchcock's wife Alma is nominated for Supporting Actress in a Miniseries Or A Movie, although Sienna Miller missed out on a nod for her performance as Tippi Hedren.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2368777/Emmy-nominations-2013-Downton-Abbey-flies-flag-Brits-12-nods--Helen-Mirren-Damian-Lewis-nominated.html#ixzz2ZRa780cM 
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Helen Mirren intimidated by Olivier, Gielgud (BUSINESS STANDARD)

When I came into the acting profession it was quite different, it was quiet hierarchical. You didn't sit at the same table as the leading actor," femalefirst.co.uk quoted Mirren as saying.

"It was coming out of that 1950s period. You know Lawrence Olivier, John Gielgud - these were very, very intimidating and powerful people," she added.

Mirren has gone on to enjoy an incredible career and has won numerous awards for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen".

However, she feels that her juniors might feel the same while looking at her.

"There were certain actors when I was young who were quite intimidating. They probably didn't mean to be, and maybe other people now look at me and go, 'Ooh she's scary,' but I really don't want to be or feel I am," she said.


READ MORE HERE: http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/helen-mirren-intimidated-by-olivier-gielgud-113071000037_1.html

Helen Mirren on the terrifying headmistress who inspired her rise to fame - and why she almost refused a damehood By JAMES PEACHEY (MAIL ON LINE)

Dame Helen Mirren doesn’t do demure. Indeed, she’s made a very successful career out of playing formidable characters that you wouldn’t mess with.

From Queens — including Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, Elizabeth II (twice) — to uncompromising women like Lady Macbeth, Madame Bovary and the ice-cool Detective Chief Superintendent Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect, she can face down even the strongest opponent with an imperious flick of an eyelid.

She famously demonstrated her forbidding demeanour only last month, when she stomped off the stage to confront a group of drummers in the street outside who were providing unwelcome musical accompaniment to her performance in The Audience at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End.

So it is hardly a surprise that in her latest movie, Monsters University — in which she is heard but not seen — she easily digs deep into those natural reserves of unchallengeable authority.  

Helen plays Dr Abigail Hardscrabble, dean at the School of Scaring in Monsters University, a prequel to the enormously successful 2001 Disney Pixar animated movie Monsters Inc.

She is easily the most intimidating woman I’ve ever played,’ she assures me when we meet at a London hotel where she was preparing for the film’s release.  

For extra inspiration, she confides, she drew on her memory of her old school headmistress — ‘who used to terrify me, frighten me to death’.

It was at St Bernard’s Convent High School, in her native Southend-On-Sea, Essex, almost 60 years ago that Dame Mother Mary Mildred scared young Helen and inspired her in equal measure.

She said: ‘The funny thing is, I didn’t consciously think about her when I was voicing the part of Dean Hardscrabble in a Hollywood studio, even though she made such a big impression on my early life.

‘It was only when I came back to England and somebody asked me whether I had anybody in mind when I was playing her that I realised that she’d been in my thoughts. To me, she was really scary, sitting there dressed in black and white and exuding this sort of strict kindness.

‘But — and here’s my really important memory of Dame Mother Mary Mildred — she was very wise, and I like to think I’ve imbued the character of Dean Hardscrabble with a mixture of her scariness and wisdom.

‘At the age of ten, she gave me not only the best piece of advice that anyone has ever given me but advice which I’ve lived by ever since and which has helped me enormously in life — and that advice was to understand fear, to recognise that the worst thing about fear is fear itself.

'Once you recognise that, and can deal with it, even if it’s just by pretending you’re not frightened, life isn’t nearly as frightening.

‘Without those words of wisdom from my old headmistress, I don’t think I would have had the courage to take on some of the really challenging roles in my career.’


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2350382/Helen-Mirren-terrifying-headmistress-inspired-rise-fame--refused-damehood.html#ixzz2XX7H7ix2 
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Helen Mirren in filmed play 'Audience' sets screen record MARK KENNEDY ASSOCIATED PRESS (DAYTONA BEACH NEWSJOURNAL)

NEW YORK — As a queen, Helen Mirren reigns on screen and stage.

National Theatre Live, which broadcasts stage shows from England to movie screens worldwide, said Monday that its June 13 live broadcast of Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II in the play "The Audience" has captured its largest audience to date.

"We were expecting a big audience for it because there's been great buzz, but it's turned out even greater than expected," David Sabel, executive producer of NT Live, said in an interview from London. "It's very exciting."

Peter Morgan's play, performed at London's Gielgud Theatre, was seen by nearly 30,000 people in North America and nearly 80,000 people in the United Kingdom, a record for the four-year-old program which began with a screening of "Phedre" starring Mirren.

The response has prompted more encore screenings of the play. In North America, there are 700 screenings scheduled throughout the summer, with additional encores to be added. In the UK, nearly 800 screenings will take place.

READ MORE: http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20130623/WIRE/306199986/1064?Title=Helen-Mirren-in-filmed-play-Audience-sets-screen-record

Becks cuddles ‘The Queen’: David Beckham poses with Helen Mirren (THE SUN) By FRAN WETZEL Published: 2 hrs ago

IT seems even Helen Mirren can’t resist the charm of David Beckham – cuddling up to the footie legend at a birthday party for the Queen.

The actress, 68, got close to the former England ace as they posed for photos at the bash held in honour of Her Majesty in Shanghai, China.

The pair had previously met an awards ceremony in 2007. And it seemed they are old pals, chatting away happily at a reception afterwards.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/4977078/Becks-poses-with-Helen-Mirren.html#ixzz2WlOYu7hI

Dame Helen Mirren grants dying fan's wish (MSN)

The actress reached out to 10-year-old schoolboy Oliver Burton, who is battling cancer in his spine and may have just weeks to live, after learning he was unable to meet the real Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Dame Helen then stepped in to help make Burton's dream come true - she treated him to a limousine ride to see her London play The Audience, in which she portrays the monarch, and met him in character backstage at the Gielgud Theater after the show.

The star, who introduced Burton to her corgi dog co-star and even pretended to knight him during the visit, tells The Sun on Sunday, "It was a pleasure and a privilege to meet such a brave young man."

READ MORE: http://entertainment.ca.msn.com/celebs/dame-helen-mirren-grants-dying-fans-wish-1

Film Geeks at the Theatre – James McAvoy on the Differences Between Stage and Screen May 15, 2013 By Ben Mortimer (HEY U GUYS UK)

Not all that long ago there was a pretty clear distinction between a theatre actor and a film actor. Once in a blue moon you’d see an A-lister getting back to their roots with a role at the National Theatre, but on the whole the closest you’d get to a well-known thesp on a West End stage was Jason Donovan in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat.

Recently, though, things have been changing. London theatre-goers can see Luke Treadaway, Brian Cox, John Simm, Roger Allam, Zoe Wanamaker, Rupert Everett and Helen Mirren. And that’s just the ones that immediately sprang to mind.

With this in mind, we’ve decided to do something a little different at HeyUGuys: an occasional column looking at the cross over between the worlds of stage and celluloid. We’re calling it ‘Film Geeks at the Theatre.

READ MORE: http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/film-geeks-at-the-theatre-james-mcavoy-on-the-differences-between-stage-and-screen/

Helen Mirren:(VIDEO) 'They were very sweet and stopped the minute they knew I wasn’t just a batty old woman': Queen Helen on the moment she stormed off stage to confront a noisy drumming troupe (Mail On LIne)

By ALASDAIR GLENNIE and EMILY ALLEN

PUBLISHED: 17:11 EST, 5 May 2013 | UPDATED: 10:56 EST, 6 May 2013

 Reports of her exact words differ, but it is clear the 67-year-old was, like Queen Victoria, not amused.  Some said she told the group to ‘shut the **** up’.

One is not amused: Helen Mirren as The Queen in play The Audience

Others said she ‘stomped out and shrieked “Quiet! I’m trying to do a play in here!” ’

Dame Helen is playing the Queen in The Audience, a play about the monarch’s private weekly meetings with various prime ministers at Buckingham Palace.

Last week the role earned her an Olivier award for best actress. 

The play’s writer Peter Morgan also scripted the 2006 film The Queen, for which Dame Helen won an Oscar.

Saturday night’s West End performance of the play was disturbed by the sound of drums five minutes before the interval.

A troupe of performers marched past the theatre in a parade designed to promote As One In The Park, a festival for gay and transgender people due to take place in East London this month.

Followed by a crowd of around 200, the musicians and dancers stopped outside a bar to perform a drum crescendo – unaware they were drowning out Dame Helen’s lines.

Now Dame Helen has revealed she would like to invite the performers to see her play. 

Audience member Ben Scotchbrook told the Daily Mail that the actress finished the first half without letting the noise affect her performance. 

When the second half was interrupted by a lighting blackout, she went on stage and revealed she had dealt with the source of the noise.

‘She was a real pro, she saved the day,’ said Mr Scotchbrook, a 43-year-old communications consultant from Buckinghamshire.

‘The noise was really irritating, but she didn’t get ruffled on stage.

‘In the interval I went out and tried to ask the drummers to move on, to no effect. I don’t think they realised they could be heard inside the theatre.

READ MORE: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2319974/They-sweet-stopped-minute-knew-I-wasn-t-just-batty-old-woman-Queen-Helen-moment-stormed-stage-confront-noisy-drumming-troupe.html

Helen Mirren storms out of theatre dressed as the Queen to rebuke noisy drummers (THE GLOBE AND MAIL)

Silence for the queen, please.

A troupe of street drummers got a shock when Helen Mirren, dressed as the Queen, emerged from a London theatre to berate them for disrupting her show.

Mirren is starring in The Audience, a drama about the weekly meetings between the queen and Britain’s prime ministers over her 60-year reign.

Mirren told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that she used less-than-royal language in the rant during the intermission of Saturday’s performance.

“I’m afraid there were a few ‘thespian’ words used,” Mirren was quoted as saying Monday. “They got a very stern royal ticking off but I have to say they were very sweet and they stopped immediately.

“I felt rotten, but on the other hand they were destroying our performance so something had to be done.”

The drummers were marching through London’s West End to promote As One in the Park, a gay music festival being held later this month.


READ MORE: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/helen-mirren-storms-out-of-theatre-dressed-as-the-queen-to-rebuke-noisy-drummers/article11730323/

Helen Mirren reigns at London's Olivier awards April 28, 2013 | 11:22 pm JILL LAWLESS Associated Press The Washington Examiner

LONDON (AP) -- Helen Mirren was crowned queen of the London stage at the Olivier Awards Sunday, while compelling, canine-titled teen drama "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" emerged as best in show with seven trophies.

Mirren, 67, was a popular and expected best actress choice for her regal yet vulnerable Queen Elizabeth II in "The Audience," Peter Morgan's behind-palace-doors drama about the relationship between Britain's queen and its prime ministers.

The actress, who won an Academy Award in 2007 for playing Britain's monarch in "The Queen," quipped that it was 87-year-old Elizabeth who deserved an award, "for the most consistent and committed performance of the 20th century, and probably the 21st century."

Backstage, it turned out she wasn't kidding. Mirren, who has been Olivier-nominated three times before, said that finally winning "doesn't mean that I was the best actor. There were so many incredible performances out there."

"I was making a joke about the queen winning, but I think actually it is a reflection of the kind of respect the queen is held in," she said.

Her "Audience" co-star, Richard McCabe, who won the supporting actor trophy for playing 1960s and 70s Prime Minister Harold Wilson, said Mirren was a joy to work with.

"It's important as an actor to be absolutely fearless, and she is," he said.

While the queen herself hasn't been to see the Stephen Daldry-directed show -- rumored to be Broadway-bound -- McCabe said "a lot of people in the royal household have been coming in and watching incognito, and they must be reporting back."

The surprise of the awards ceremony at London's Royal Opera House was "Curious Incident," an adaptation of Mark Haddon's best-selling young-adult novel about a teenage math prodigy with Asperger's Syndrome who sets out to find the killer of his neighbor's dog, with destabilizing results.

The show, which premiered at the state-subsidized National Theatre last year before transferring to a commercial West End playhouse, has won praise for its creative use of movement and technology to make the leap from page to stage.

The Simon Stephens-scripted drama was named best new play, and 28-year-old Luke Treadaway was crowned best actor, beating a strong list of contenders including Rupert Everett, Mark Rylance and James McAvoy.


READ MORE: http://washingtonexaminer.com/helen-mirren-reigns-at-londons-olivier-awards/article/2528386