Dame Helen Mirren is an English actor whose career has spanned over six decades, with recognition for her work in film, television, and on stage. She has received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, four BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards, five Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Peabody Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, and a Tony Award. She was made a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) by Elizabeth II in 2003 for her services to drama.
She received the Academy Award for Best Actress, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in The Queen (2006). She was Oscar-nominated for The Madness of King George (1994), Gosford Park (2001), and The Last Station (2009). She was Globe-nominated for being Alma Hitchcock in Hitchcock (2012) and Hedda Hopper in Trumbo (2015).
For television she won 3 British Academy Film Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards for Prime Suspect (1991–2006). She received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Television Movie for being Elizabeth I in said HBO miniseries (2005).
On stage, she played Queen Elizabeth II in the Peter Morgan play The Audience on the West End and Broadway stage winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress and Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play respectively. She was previously Tony-nominated for playing Natalia Petrovna in the Ivan Turgenev play A Month in the Country (1995) and Alice in the August Strindberg play The Dance of Death (2002).
Mirren is one of few actresses to have achieved the Triple Crown of Acting, which is competitive Academy Award, Emmy Award, and Tony Award wins, as well the British equivalent of British Academy Film and Television Awards plus an Olivier, and the only person to have completed both crowns. She has received several honorary awards, including the BAFTA Fellowship in 2013, the Film Society of Lincoln Center Gala Tribute in 2018, the Berlin International Film Festival's Honorary Golden Bear in 2020, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2022.
Major associations Academy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 1995 Best Supporting Actress The Madness of King George 2002 Gosford Park 2007 Best Actress The Queen 2010 The Last Station
Actor Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 1999 Outstanding Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie The Passion of Ayn Rand 2001 Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture Gosford Park Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role 2002 Outstanding Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Door to Door 2003 The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone 2006 Elizabeth I Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading RoleThe Queen 2009 The Last Station 2012 Hitchcock 2013 Outstanding Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Phil Spector 2015 Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role Woman in Gold Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role Trumbo Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture 2021 Life Achievement Award 2023 Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture Barbie
BAFTA Awards Year Category Nominated work Result British Academy Film Awards 1984 Best Actress in a Leading Role Cal 1995 The Madness of King George 2001 Best Actress in a Supporting Role Gosford Park 2006 Best Actress in a Leading Role The Queen 2012 Hitchcock 2013 BAFTA Fellowship British Academy Television Awards1991 Best ActressPrime Suspect 1992Prime Suspect 2 1993Prime Suspect 3 1995Prime Suspect 4: The Lost Child 1996Prime Suspect 5: Errors of Judgement 2003Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness
Emmy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Primetime Emmy Awards 1993 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Prime Suspect 2 1994 Prime Suspect 3 1996 Prime Suspect 4: The Scent of Darkness 1997 Prime Suspect 5: Errors of Judgement 1999 The Passion of Ayn Rand 2003 The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Door to Door 2004 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness 2006 Elizabeth I 2007 Prime Suspect: The Final Act 2013 Phil Spector Children’s & Family Emmy Awards 2022 Outstanding Host Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses
Golden Globe Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 1996 Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Losing Chase 1999 The Passion of Ayn Rand 2001 Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Gosford Park 2002 Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Door to Door 2003 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical Calendar Girls Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone 2006 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama The Queen Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Elizabeth I Prime Suspect: The Final Act 2009 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama The Last Station 2012 Hitchcock 2013 Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Phil Spector 2014 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical The Hundred-Foot Journey 2015 Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Trumbo 2017 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical The Leisure Seeker 2019 Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Catherine the Great 2023 Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama 1923 2026 Cecil B. DeMille Award Best Actress in a Television Series – DramaMobLand
Olivier Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 1983Actress of the Year in a RevivalAntony and Cleopatra 2001 Best ActressOrpheus Descending 2004Mourning Becomes Electra 2013The Audience
Tony Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 1995 Best Actress in a PlayA Month in the Country 2002The Dance of Death 2015The Audience
Industry awards Organizations Year Category Work Result Ref.British Independent Film Awards 2006 Best Actress The Queen Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2001 Best Acting Ensemble Gosford Park 2006 Best Actress The Queen 2015 Best Supporting Actress Trumbo Independent Spirit Awards 2009 Best Female Lead The Last Station
Festival awards Organizations Year Category Work Result Ref. Cannes Film Festival 1984 Best Actress Cal 1995 The Madness of King George Venice Film Festival 2006 Volpi Cup for Best Actress The Queen
Film Critics awards Organizations Year Category Work Result Ref.AAFCA Awards 2006 Best Actress The Queen Boston Society of Film Critics 2006 Best Actress Chicago Film Critics Association 2006 Best Actress DFWFCA Awards 2006 Best Actress Florida Film Critics Circle 2006 Best Actress Kansas City Film Critics Circle 2006 Best Actress Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award 2006 Best Actress London Film Critics' Circle 2001 British Supporting Actress of the Year Gosford Park / Last Orders 2006 British Actress of the Year The Queen Los Angeles Film Critics Association 2006 Best Actress National Society of Film Critics 2001 Best Supporting Actress Gosford Park 2006 Best Actress The Queen National Board of Review 2006 Best Actress New York Film Critics Circle 2001 Best Supporting Actress Gosford Park 2006 Best Actress The Queen New York Film Critics Online 2006 Best Actress Online Film Critics Society 2006 Best Actress Phoenix Film Critics Society Award 2006 Best Actress San Diego Film Critics Society 2006 Best Actress San Francisco Film Critics Circle 2006 Best Actress Southeastern Film Critics Association 2006 Best Actress SLGFCA Awards 2006 Best Actress Toronto Film Critics Association 2006 Best Actress Lee-Anne Goodman, "'The Queen' named best picture by Toronto's film critics". Canadian Press, December 20, 2006.Vancouver Film Critics Circle 2006 Best Actress WAFCA Awards 2006 Best Actress
Miscellaneous accolades Organizations Year Category Work Result Ref.Audio Publishers Association2010 Audiobook of the YearNelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales Multi-Voiced Performance European Film Award 2003 Best Actress Calendar Girls 2007 The Queen Evening Standard British Film Award 1984 Best Actress Cal Golden Raspberry Award 2018 Worst Actress Winchester 2024 Worst Actress Shazam! Fury of the Gods Satellite Award Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Gosford Park Outstanding Motion Picture Ensemble 2003 Best Actress – Motion Picture Calendar Girls 2006 Best Actress – Motion Picture The Queen 2010 The Tempest 2016 Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Eye in the Sky 2019 Best Actress – Motion Picture The Good Liar 1996 Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Prime Suspect 5: Errors of Judgment 2002 Best Supporting Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Door to Door 2003 Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone 2004 Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness 2006 Elizabeth I 2013 Phil Spector 2019 Catherine the Great Saturn Award 1981 Best Supporting Actress Excalibur 2010 Red 2012 Best Actress Hitchcock
Theatre awards Organizations Year Category Work Result Ref.Plays and Players 1976 Best Actress AwardTeeth 'n' SmilesTheatre World Award1995Theatre World AwardA Month in the CountryDrama Desk Award1995 Outstanding Actress in a PlayA Month in the Country2015The AudienceDrama League Award 2015Distinguished PerformanceEvening Standard Theatre Award2013Best Theatre Play Actress Outer Critics Circle Award2015Outstanding Actress in a PlayWhatsOnStage Award2010Best Actress in a PlayPhèdre2014Best Actress in a Play The Audience
Honours and achievements Mirren was invested as a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2003 Birthday Honours for services to drama. When she received the honour, Mirren commented that Prince Charles was "very graceful", but forgot to give her half of the award. Another person had to remind him to give Mirren the star. She also said that she felt wary about accepting the award, and had to be persuaded by comrades to accept the damehood. In 1996, she had declined appointment as a Commander of the order (CBE).Helen Mirren declines CBE, The Times On 3 January 2013, Mirren received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6714 Hollywood Boulevard, in front of the Pig 'n Whistle,"Helen Mirren". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved 19 November 2017 and joked about her star's proximity to that of The King's Speech actor Colin Firth, stating: "I couldn't be prouder and more happy that I'm actually going to finally lie next to Colin Firth, something I've been wanting to do for a very long time.""Helen Mirren Gets Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star" . Sky News. Retrieved 5 January 2013
YearOrganisationAwardResultRef.2004Britannia AwardsExcellence in International Entertainment2006The Critics' CircleDistinguished Service to the Arts2007University Philosophical SocietyHonorary Patron of the Society2011Moscow International Film FestivalStanislavsky Award2012Karlovy Vary International Film FestivalCrystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema2012European Film AwardsEuropean Film Award for Achievement in World Cinema2013BAFTA AwardsBAFTA Fellowship2013Hollywood Walk of FameInductee2015Gotham AwardsTribute Award2016National Film Awards UKGlobal Contribution to Motion Picture Award2016Capri Hollywood International Film FestivalCapri Legend Award2016Goldene KameraLebenswerk international (Lifetime achievement international)2018Film Society of Lincoln CenterGala Tribute2020Berlin International Film FestivalHonorary Golden Bear2022SAG AwardsScreen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award 2022Peabody AwardDocumentary Now! 2026 Filmfest HamburgDouglas Sirk Award
Honorary degrees Dame Helen Mirren has been awarded several honorary degrees, in recognition of her acting career and her promotion of educational and charitable initiatives. These include: