Helen Mirren is an English actress and stage performer who was born on July 26, 1945, in Chiswick, London, in the United Kindom. Mirren was born at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in Hammersmith, London, to her parents Kathleen Alexandrina Eva Matilda and Vasily Petrovich Mironoff. She attended Hamlet Court primary school in Westcliff-on-Sea where she participated in theater. Mirren landed the lead role in the school play "Hansel and Gretel". Mirren went on to attend St Bernard's High School for Girls in South-on-Sea where she also participated in theatrical productions. Upon graduating high school, Mirren attended the New College of Speech and Drama in London. When she turned 18, Mirren was accepted in the National Youth Theatre. Mirren went on to land starring roles in several theatrical productions including Cleopatra in "Antony and Cleopatra", Cressida in "Troilus and Cressida", and Rosalind in "As You Like It".

In 1970, a documentary was made about Mirren's career in theater with the Royal Shakespeare Company called "Doing Her Own Thing". Mirren has also had a successful career in the film industry with appearances in films such as "Midsummer Night's Dream", "Age of Consent", and "The Prince of Egypt". She married actor Liam Neeson in the 1980s but they would ultimately divorce. Mirren married again this time to American director Taylor Hackford in 1986 and the couple has been together ever since.