The Trinity College Philosophical Society last night rolled out its red carpet and welcomed Academy Award-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren, to regale a packed auditorium with stories of a career that has spanned four decades.
Mirren has been a star of theatre, television and film both in Britain and farther afield. She has featured in Cleopatra, Prime Suspect and recently portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen.
In a wide-ranging and lively discussion with the inquisitive MC Paul Byrne, Mirren spoke of her Russian heritage, a "mesmerising" introduction to theatre on the pier in Southend-on-Sea and of her artistic inspiration, painter Francis Bacon.
The ever elegant Mirren, who is now 62-years-old, also discussed how she overcame many insecurities in her career, including "getting my kit off", saying that although she has won awards aplenty, they are not the be-all and end-all for an actor.
"Awards are a bit of a problem because you know in your heart of hearts that it's all ridiculous. I'm ambivalent about awards, they're a great marketing tool . . . but some of our greatest artists have never won one."
