Helen Mirren takes best actress prize at Olivier Awards

PanARMENIAN.Net - Helen Mirren reigned at London's Olivier theater awards, taking the best actress prize for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Mirren had been favorite for the trophy at Britain's equivalent of Broadway's Tonys for her regal yet vulnerable turn in Morgan's play about the private weekly meetings between the monarch and Britain's prime ministers over the her 61-year reign.

Mirren is no stranger to royalty — she won an Academy award in 2007 for the same role in The Queen.

Accepting the award, she joked that it was the queen who deserved an award, "for the most consistent and committed performance of the 20th century, and probably the 21st century."

The winners were being announced during a song- and dance-filled ceremony at London's Royal Opera House hosted by Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville and stage star Sheridan Smith — who kicked things off by belting out Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend.

Homeland star Damian Lewis, Sex and the City alumna Kim Cattrall and former boy wizard Daniel Radcliffe were among the presenters. The show is due to include performances from Glee star Matthew Morrison and Tony-winning diva Idina Menzel.

Audience co-star Richard McCabe, who won the supporting actor trophy for playing Prime Minister Harold Wilson, said Mirren was a joy to work with.

"It's important as an actor to be absolutely fearless, and she is," he said.