Let’s be honest, when it comes to screen royalty, Dame Helen Mirren is the queen. With over half a century under her belt, in addition to over 100 credits to her name, and all of the big acting awards you can think of, she’s done them all: Shakespeare, action films, indies, and even superhero franchises. So what performances represent her brilliance best? These are 10 Helen Mirren performances you will never forget.
10. Hespera – Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
Who else could stroll into a DC behemoth at 75 and completely own the part? As ancient goddess Hespera, enraged by some dimension-ending slight, Mirren brought weight, wit, and a hint of Shakespearean malevolence. She helped elevate the movie above comic-book fare, proving that she can still rule supreme in the age of capes and CGI.
9. Victoria Winslow – RED (2010) & RED 2 (2013)
Mirren as an ex-hitwoman using machine guns and wearing pearls? Iconic. In RED, she was funny and lethal, demonstrating that action heroics are the sole preserve of the twenty-somethings. Her wry humor and cool breeziness turned Victoria Winslow into one of her most surprising and lovable performances.
8. Sofya Tolstoy – The Last Station (2009)
As Tolstoy’s hot-headed wife in this movie, Mirren delivered a full-bodied, passionate performance that earned her another Oscar nomination. She balanced Sofya’s delicacy with her fierce defense of her family’s legacy, and her on-screen chemistry with Christopher Plummer was unforgettable.
7. Queen Charlotte – The Madness of King George (1994)
Long before she played Elizabeth II, Mirren played a monarch, Queen Charlotte, the king’s wife, disintegrating around her. Her take grounded the period drama in warmth and compassion, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award and confirmed her skill at humanizing royal roles.
6. Morgana – Excalibur (1981)
One of Mirren’s earliest career-defining performances was as mystical and intimidating Morgana Le Fay in John Boorman’s Excalibur. She was both beguiling and terrifying, a worthy casting for the movie’s dark, mythological aesthetic. It remains one of her most iconic fantasy performances.
5. Jane Tennison – Prime Suspect (1991–2006)
Over seven years, Mirren redefined the TV detective in her Jane Tennison, a trailblazing woman inspector whose path was blocked by the largely male police service. Tennison was intelligent, warm, and endlessly fascinating—and Mirren took home numerous BAFTAs and Emmys for the role. This was more than just great television; this was revolutionary.
4. Georgina Spica – The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989)
Provocative, daring, and visually unforgettable, Peter Greenaway’s film was provocative, but Mirren’s raw acting as Georgina, the battered wife who reclaims herpowerer brought the film down to earth. Her dignity and depth of emotion cut through the film’s ghastly imagery, making it a courageous exercise in her talent.
3. Maria Altmann – Woman in Gold (2015)
Emerging from a true story, Mirren shone as Maria Altmann, one of the Holocaust victims who fought to reclaim a Klimt painting stolen by the Nazis. She infused humor, dignity, and strength into the character, transmogrifying a courtroom drama into an extremely personal narrative of memory, justice, and survival.
2. Queen Elizabeth II – The Queen (2006)
The role that became her signature. In The Queen, Mirren’s disciplined, precise acting gave Elizabeth II life in the nation’s grief over the death of Princess Diana. Her ability to lay bare the queen’s inner conflict earned her an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe. It is among the most authoritative portrayals of a reigning monarch.
1. Narrator – Barbie (2023)
Yes, and her Barbie gig earns the list because only Helen Mirren could imbue the movie’s witty, insider narration with such impeccable comedic timing. She guided us through Barbieland with sarcasm and biting insults, proving that even in voiceover, she can take over the scene.
From Stage to Screen, She’s Always Unforgettable
From fantasy villains to fearless detectives, from queens to quirky narrators, Helen Mirren’s done it all, and done it beautifully. Few possess the range, charisma, and sheer staying power she brings to each role. Whether crowned or cartridge-toting, one thing is for sure: Helen Mirren is screen royalty no matter what.