With the equally extraordinary exception of Vanessa Redgrave
we daresay no other British actress of the last half-century can equal
in the length, depth and width of a career that’s scaled the triumphant heights of theatre, television and film
as
“I don't mind being sexy, but on my terms. To this day, I love sexuality. I love the art of sexuality. I love Lady Gaga and the performance of sexuality. The mysterious, the artistic and the slightly perverse. I'm interested in all that.
“In my heart of hearts I love women more than I love men. I mean sexuality aside - I'm heterosexual. I guess I'm heterosexual. I loved my friend I had at college because there was a sense of camaraderie and physical closeness that doesn't have to be sexual.
Re the Oscars: "It's the creme-de-la-creme of bulls**t … Oh, it's such a palaver! It's like a day's work. You have to decide what you're going to wear. You put on your costume. You do your performance. It's exhausting. And if you win, everyone wants a piece of you. Of course, it's the mothership of all ceremonies. And it's a fantastic, wonderful, carnival that you just can't resist. You jump aboard the roundabout, get whizzed round until you're vaguely nauseous and stagger off happily at the end, back to reality.
“The most telling line that Sofya has is when she says: 'Why should it be easy? You are the work of my life and I am the work of yours. That's what love is.' I think that's a brilliant description. Because it is work.
And you go through all different mountains and valleys in a marriage."
Is there ANYTHING this bold, brave, courageous, outrageous, sensuously sexy, sexually sensuous, tangibly intelligent, nothing-human-is-alien woman with few peers and no superiors doesn’t excel at?
And the fat lady hasn’t sang yet so it’s not all over.
The film we’re most anticipating this year is Julie Taymor’s version of “The Tempest”
with the magnificent Ms. Mirren as Prospera.
”The trick in life is learning how to deal with it”.
Lovely woman - a real class act indeed! I knew her socially (and briefly, professionally) during and after her work on 2010 (as Commander of the Leonov) -- I had such a crush on her, especially after seeing her in Excalibur! And her beau, Taylor Hackford - is the nicest dude - lucky SOB!
Helen Mirren has always marched to her own drummer which is just one of the reasons why she has played leading roles for such a long time in an industry that doesn't normally tolerate women aging forcing them into supporting roles rather early in their careers compared to men. She is one of a handful of women to accomplish this with others having names such as Hepburn & Davis to name but two.
Anyway, all of that aside, if you want to see an unspoiled, natural, comfortable in her full figured skin woman, rent The Age of Consent (1969). A more innocent, natural image of the female nude body you won't see very often. She reminds me of perhaps what it might have been like before the mythical "apple".
really should have a shot of Dame Mirren as Cmdr Kirbuk from 2010 -- one of her first state side roles, and just before she did WHITE NIGHTS -- and that HACKFORD fellow stole her from all of us!!
Ah, there she is - on the incredible Leonov set (of 2010 at MGM). Thanks neotrinity - you rock! One day, I shall tell stories about working on 2010 at MGM -- and the infamous day on the Ester Williams water tank set (Dr. Floyd's house set)! Er, or maybe, I'll just finally finish the book I've been scribbling!
Anyway, all of that aside, if you want to see an unspoiled, natural, comfortable in her full figured skin woman, rent The Age of Consent (1969). A more innocent, natural image of the female nude body you won't see very often. She reminds me of perhaps what it might have been like before the mythical "apple".
D'OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE sfpl DOES NOT HAVE THE DVD!
The apple is not regarded as mythical except in the sense the text never specifies the fruit, neo. (end of religion discussion).
WHOA, HooRaq, We Plead the Sixth and Seventh Department:
We didn’t bring the matter up, amigo – it can get rough enuff ‘round here without being an accidental lightning-rod! Sheesh!!!
As fer yer on-set experiences, Steve-ski,
we’d love for you to share some of ‘em, especially where the subject under scope is concerned.
As to that, whilst perusing Ms. Mirren’s fascinating autobio this weekend, she relates an utterly NIFTY tale of how she accidentally scandalized the set - and especially Mr. Scheider -
when she affectionately used the “c---t” word as a term of endearment towards him (the Americans not aware it has a totally different connotation in British theatrical circles).
Can you have a female Prospero? I haven't decided.
Of course it's an inevitable thing to do nowadays, someone would have attempted it, and a CGI film will make it come alive.
Some years ago they tried a ludicrous 'Queen Lear' which was a gimmick of course. Lear's is a male psyche, which is not the same as an aged lady's. This is not political-correctness territory, but psychology, and women are not men.
The key to the 'Tempest' is the 'Hanged Man' or the 'hermit' as Tarot people would put it, the one who, isolated and constrained on his island, draws to himself outwardly what he wills in his own microcosm. Shakespeare's lot tried to ride the occult whilst holding onto Christianity, which is a very tough ride. The building of the inner microcosm is the alchemist's toolkit. I suppose that is the same for women as for men .... maybe. Except that an alchemist woman in that era would have had the extra problem of being interpreted as a witch. I suppose you could get some feminist mileage out of that. But it's not even an atom of the full deal.
Mirren is a total professional. That doesn't make her a safe commodity. She plays her sexuality, and always has, whilst proclaiming a certain feminism. You flatter her at your peril, because unless there's a professional advantage, she'd snap back very quickly I think. The pin-up collectors here she'd certainly eat for breakfast, gentlemen. If one were trapped in an elevator with said Dame, one would need to keep a stiletto handy.
The apple is not regarded as mythical except in the sense the text never specifies the fruit, neo. (end of religion discussion).
Isn't it just as well the 'religious discussion' ends there? What with all the carnal Oedipal photos 'n all. I mean, you never see pin-ups in churches etc..
Perhaps she ate the apple and knew that she was naked.
She's lost on me. Not that I dislike her, but I've never been so struck by her that I want to wax poetic about her. In fact, I just recently re-watched a film I hadn't seen in years, Heavenly Pursuits, and commented to my wife, how hard it is to believe that she became such a prolific actor, to which she agreed. Tom Conti, on the other hand, is astonishingly impressive in it. Enjoying the thread, though!
