Fresh from a costume fitting, where I had been posing in front of the mirror assuming what I thought was a strong position - arms folded, butch-looking...you know - I met with the woman in charge of Holloway police station. She gave me the most invaluable advice: never let them see you cry, and never cross your arms. When I asked why, she said 'because it is a defensive action and therefore weak.

Reviewing her portrayal for The Sunday Telegraph Francis King wrote: "Miss Mirren never leaves it in doubt that even in her absences this ardent beautiful woman is the most important character of the story. Her father Vasiliy Petrovich Mironov (1913–1980) was of Russian origin originally from Smolensk Oblast and her mother Kitty (née Kathleen Alexandrina Eva Matilda Rogers; 1909–1996) was English. Another person had to remind him to give Mirren the star.

Mirren was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2013. She is the only actress ever to have portrayed both Queens Elizabeth on the screen. From her very first film appearance (playing the young muse to a middle-aged artist in 1969’s Age of Consent) Mirren displayed the overtly sensual screen persona that would become her trademark.