Helen Mirren has starred in movies for decades. But after winning the Best Actress Oscar for 2006’s “The Queen”, her career skyrocketed. Her latest film, “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms”, opens next week. Here are Helen Mirren’s best recent movies since “The Queen”:
“EYE IN THE SKY”
This underrated 2016 drama featured Mirren, Aaron Paul, Barkhad Abdi and the late Alan Rickman. All four played key parts in this dramatic suspense thriller centering on surveillance. It’s an intense and emotional experience, with each of the actors, including Mirren, giving moving performances.
“HITCHCOCK”
Another Mirren release seen by too few people. She received critical acclaim as Alma Reville, the wife of iconic film director Alfred Hitchcock (played by Anthony Hopkins) – and the even more true mastermind behind the classic thriller “Psycho”.
“THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY”
Mirren earned a well-deserved Golden Globe nomination for her terrific work as a restaurant owner hungry for bigger things. It’s a sweet and satisfying relationship dramedy that earned an impressive $54M in Summer 2014 – nearly five times its opening weekend. Mirren re-teams with “Hundred-Foot” director Lasse Hallstorm for “The Nutcracker”.
“MONSTERS UNIVERSITY”
Disney/Pixar’s 2013 animated prequel to “Monsters, Inc.” once again showcased the great voice talents of Billy Crystal and John Goodman. But Mirren held her own against Mike & Sulley as the stern school headmaster.
“WOMAN IN GOLD”
Ryan Reynolds delivered a career-best performance opposite Mirren in this true-story drama about a woman looking to take back ownership of a precious painting. “Gold” also implies box office because the film earned a healthy $33 million throughout the Spring and early Summer of 2015.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
“COLLATERAL BEAUTY” – Mirren joined Will Smith, Edward Norton, Keira Knightley and more for this solid modern mashup of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Carol”.
“RED 2” – A breezy and entertaining 2013 sequel to the somewhat misguided 2010 original.
“TRUMBO” – Mirren’s strong, but underused, as gossip columnist Hedda Hopper in this 2015 biopic of Blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo (played by Bryan Cranston).