Nudity No 'Big Deal' For Dame Helen

Morley Safer Profiles Award-Winning Actress Dame Helen Mirren

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on Jan. 7, 2007. It was updated on Aug. 3, 2007.

Dame Helen Mirren, the 62-year-old British actress, won acclaim this year for her three memorable performances as Queen Elizabeth I, as a troubled police detective and as Elizabeth II in the movie "The Queen," an account of the crisis that enveloped Buckingham Palace in the week following the death of Princess Diana.

For that role she won both an Academy Award and Golden Globe for best actress.

Dame Helen can fairly be described as a great trouper in the grand tradition – classical theatre, questionable movies that required nudity as much as they did talent, and memorable television roles. But as correspondent Morley Safer reports, her specialty is playing formidable women, women of great power, women with great flaws.

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She plays women like Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the reigning queen of England. And with equal ease, Mirren became Elizabeth I and dominated every scene, much the way this Elizabeth dominated her realm.

These women may appear to be made of tempered steel but Mirren disagrees. Speaking about Elizabeth I, Mirren comments, "Vulnerable, stupid, silly …. Made such ridiculous mistakes."

"And a tempestuous person, a very vulnerable personality," Mirren points out. "Bursting into tears one minute, throwing her shoes the next minute."

Elizabeth I, says Mirren, was a very volatile personality. "Not steel at all. And I think that that’s what makes any character interesting, is their vulnerability, their fear, their insecurities."

But the most flawed of Mirren's strong characters is Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison of the cult television series "Prime Suspect." She plays a tenacious single cop with a long, impeccable list of bad habits, including heavy drinking and sleeping with the wrong people.

Mirren plays her with a total absence of vanity, especially in the very last installment of "Prime Suspect."

"You look like crap. You’re hung over. You know you’ve done something naughty the night before but you can’t even remember who you did it with," Safer remarks. "You have a shot of vodka for breakfast."

"Well, to get through the day," Mirren says.

"And then things start going badly," Safer continues.

"And then they go downhill from there, that’s right," she agrees.

Tennison is known for getting even with men, especially the chauvinist cops who blocked her promotion. In the series, she uses words as if they were bullets.

"Was the opportunity to play a role in which a woman treats men like dirt…," Safer asks.

"Not all men," Mirren objects. "No, she doesn’t treat all men like dirt. You know Morley that’s, now I think that’s a bit of a sexist remark."

"If a male is messing up, she’s unafraid of saying so," Mirren explains.

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Famous People And The Stars Who Bring Them To Life
Photo: Helen Mirren

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Mirren's Tennison never uses what used to be called feminine wiles. There's no sweetness, no light. "As a woman, you’re used to getting your own way or asking for things with a smile, you know. 'Would you mind?' 'Is it ok?' You know, 'Morley, could you?' You know," Mirren says.

"Of course," Safer agrees.

"Instead of saying, 'Morley, go get that for me,'" Mirren says.

But how much Jane Tennison is in Helen Mirren? One critic said, 'She’s all about sex and domination. Part submissive, vulnerable and yet invincible. Pretty good.'"

"Very accurate," Mirren agrees, laughing. "Now that is kind of true. I think there is great truth in that."

Those are the roles that are written for her but Mirren says she chooses them.

"Well, I don’t choose them, they come my way and I don’t say no," she adds.

"You make them into submissive, vulnerable, yet invincible, correct?" Safer asks.

"Maybe. I mean that’s not conscious, Morley, I mean I'm not conscious like that. One isn’t. You just do, you do what seems right at that second," she explains.

When Mirren started in theater, her goal was to be a great classical actor. Originally, Mirren says, she was inspired by Shakespeare.

Asked if she was inspired by the language of his writing, Mirren tells Safer, "The language, but really more the stories, the characters, the imaginative world that these people lived in that were just so much more exciting than the dull, little world that I lived in Southend on Sea, Essex, the armpit of England."

[lbutts1]

After having seen countless interviews by Morley over the years, I count this one as one of the best. It was obvious that both he and Helen Mirren truly enjoyed it. Both seemed to be in their element. Ending it by walking off into the the beautiful sunset together and laughing about it was wonderful.

[house015]

I think all 17 yr olds should HAVE to see older people naked once in a while! That's where your body is headed for, buddy, don't fool yourself. I only hope I'll look as good as Ms. Mirren, myself. My 37 yr old husband would jump at a chance to bed her!

[carlylaine]

WOW martinpion

You REALLY MEANT WHAT YOU WROTE.! : )

[lacamila-2009]

I love that Helen stated that the best thing about not having children is the freedom. I think a lot more people should consider not having children.

[rufusmin]

About 27 years ago when my husband and I were coming back from a trip out west, we stayed at a motel in western PA and on TV that evening was shown a movie with Helen Mirren. The movie itself was from around 1968 and was a British TV movie, titled "Kiss, Kiss, Kill, Kill". A really good mystery. When the movie ended, my husband claimed Helen Mirren as "another" of his "discoveries". We had never seen her in a movie before this, but he extolled her acting capabilities and said she would go places. Well, he was right! And now she's a Dame. If you can find a copy of that movie "K,K,K,K" watch it. You will be AMAZED.

[ciarrai3]

Long years of watching Morley Safer and not commenting or praising him will end now. His piece on Helen Mirren (which we'd seen on first airing) was one of the most enjoyable, human and flirtacious ones I've seen of all the 10,000 on 60 Minutes. What a warm and wonderful interview. I acquired a crush on Mirren much like the one Morley had. The sight of them walking off into the sunset and the accompanying comments was priceless. Helluva job, Morley.

[donnie900]

*point'n to a spot up on the ceil'n* I think it was that one right there.

[shanev137]

People over 40 should not be allowed to be nude in R-rated movies....for the sake of 17 years olds.

Give the old folks their own rating if they want be nude in movies....like "OFN" for old-folks-nudity.

[donnie900]

Foxiest chick I ever saw. Never ceases to amaze me the charity of women. Ruined my matress.

[bluestardad]

Put a bag on it ***!

[kbcirish]

I loved the segment on Helen Mirren! What an awesome lady! Strong and carefree...I especially loved the part with Morley and Helen laughing and holding hands at the end...Wonderful report..

[Knollsgerblis]

I think Helen Mirren is probably the best actress alive today. This was a fantastic segment on 60 Minutes! Outstanding.

[m_corvinus]

What a fabulous broad!

[annd2302]

martinpion

An apology for being human, not necessary.

[Martin Pion]

My apologies for the multiple postings! Nothing happened when I clicked. Hence the repeat attempts. Hopefully I'll know better next time.

[Martin Pion]

I found the interview of Helen Mirren by Morley Safer the most entertaining and insightful I'd seen in a long while. Dame Mirren was not shy about correcting Mr. Safer's observations about her when she found them in error. And certainly the last scene on the English beach in the setting sun was evocative. As an English immigrant to the US in 1977 in my early 40s I found much to connect to, my mother and stepfather having operated a kiosk in Southend-on-Sea briefly and having grown up in a seaside town on the south coast. I was surprised by her humble beginnings and pleased by her success after a difficult early career. Thank you, 60 Minutes!

[Martin Pion]

I found the interview of Helen Mirren by Morley Safer the most entertaining and insightful I'd seen in a long while. Dame Mirren was not shy about correcting Mr. Safer's observations about her when she found them in error. And certainly the last scene on the English beach in the setting sun was evocative. As an English immigrant to the US in 1977 in my early 40s I found much to connect to, my mother and stepfather having operated a kiosk in Southend-on-Sea briefly and having grown up in a seaside town on the south coast. I was surprised by her humble beginnings and pleased by her success after a difficult early career. Thank you, 60 Minutes!

[Martin Pion]

I found the interview of Helen Mirren by Morley Safer the most entertaining and insightful I'd seen in a long while. Dame Mirren was not shy about correcting Mr. Safer's observations about her when she found them in error. And certainly the last scene on the English beach in the setting sun was evocative. As an English immigrant to the US in 1977 in my early 40s I found much to connect to, my mother and stepfather having operated a kiosk in Southend-on-Sea briefly and having grown up in a seaside town on the south coast. I was surprised by her humble beginnings and pleased by her success after a difficult early career. Thank you, 60 Minutes!

[Martin Pion]

I found the interview of Helen Mirren by Morley Safer the most entertaining and insightful I'd seen in a long while. Dame Mirren was not shy about correcting Mr. Safer's observations about her when she found them in error. And certainly the last scene on the English beach in the setting sun was evocative. As an English immigrant to the US in 1977 in my early 40s I found much to connect to, my mother and stepfather having operated a kiosk in Southend-on-Sea briefly and having grown up in a seaside town on the south coast. I was surprised by her humble beginnings and pleased by her success after a difficult early career. Thank you, 60 Minutes!

[Martin Pion]

I found the interview of Helen Mirren by Morley Safer the most entertaining and insightful I'd seen in a long while. Dame Mirren was not shy about correcting Mr. Safer's observations about her when she found them in error. And certainly the last scene on the English beach in the setting sun was evocative. As an English immigrant to the US in 1977 in my early 40s I found much to connect to, my mother and stepfather having operated a kiosk in Southend-on-Sea briefly and having grown up in a seaside town on the south coast. I was surprised by her humble beginnings and pleased by her success after a difficult early career. Thank you, 60 Minutes!