From the age of 13, when she played Caliban in a school production of "The Tempest,” Helen Mirren knew she wanted to be an actress. Despite her working-class upbringing and her parents – who scoffed at the very idea – Mirren emerged to become one of the most celebrated, decorated and revered British actress of her time. With a combination of poise, confidence, intelligence and undeniable sex appeal, Mirren became famous for her challenging performances on stage and screen that often included removing her clothes, a public exhibition that sometimes stood in the way of her work. “[F]or a long
