Taking a new look at the Mirren image
Helen Mirren, who swept Hollywood’s awards season last year with her work in `The Queen,’ is trading in her tiara for bumps and bruises.
The 62-year-old actress did her own stunts for the new action flick “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” her first film since winning an Oscar.
Q: Why do “National Treasure”?
A: Why do something as fun as this, as exciting as this, why on earth do something as popular as this, why do something as well-budgeted as this? Is she insane?
Q: Is she?
A: No, she’s really, really sensible. She knew what she needed to do. I’m not talking about career move, I’m just talking about my personal pleasure, my personal fun. … I wanted to be in a sort of ensemble piece, I didn’t want to be the star of the piece, and I’ve never been in a big, big, big-budget movie before. It was wonderful to participate in something like that where there is enough money to do what you want to do.
Q: You did your own stunts?
A: I guess, yes, I did. Certainly the swinging on the wire, the swinging on the vine I did and everything in the water I did, yes of course.
Q: How was it?
A: Well, it was the best thing of my life! (Laughing) It was fantastic, at the end of swinging on the vine they just, the whole crew just thought I was so funny because I was just yelling with pleasure. I was so excited about it. And I said to (director) Jon Turteltaub at the end of the day that that was the best day of my professional life.
Q: Bumps, bruises?
A: I guess I got a few bruises, but you know I get bruised on stage. Bruises are part of your life as an actor.
Q: Did life change after you had the little gold guy?
A: I’ve got my little gold guy, and I love my little gold guy, (but) no, not specifically, I don’t think so. … It’s in other people’s perceptions really rather than in your own perception of yourself. I don’t think literally my life changed or will change at all.
Q: So now, Oscar winner, and action hero?
A: (Laughing) Yes! Yes, absolutely, I hope so. I would be so thrilled of people seeing me as an action hero. That would be pinnacle of my career definitely.
The birthday bunch
Actor Frederic Forrest (“Lonesome Dove”) is 71. Actor-comedian Harry Shearer is 64. Actress Susan Lucci is 61. Singer Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) is 43. Actor Corey Haim is 36.