Helen Mirren says she accepted her damehood for her parents. The 69-year-old actress received the honour from the Queen for her services to the performing arts in 2003.
Although Helen’s mother and father had died by the time she was invited to Buckingham Palace to get the accolade, the Woman in Gold star decided she had to accept it, despite having reservations, because it would have made her parents proud.
“Becoming a dame was a whole different thing. It was to do with my family, with my mum and dad, and the world I grew up in… I accepted it for my parents,” she said.
Helen’s main concern about accepting the honour was that she would be losing her edge as an artist. “I don’t want to be part of the establishment. That’s not my role as an artist. Our job, as artists, is to have the courage to step up and attack the establishment.”