Dame Helen Mirren has remembered the Queen as the “Nation’s Leading Star” as she led a special tribute to the late monarch at the Bafta Film Awards.
The veteran actress, 77, has portrayed the monarch on stage and screen, winning an Oscar and a Bafta for her performance in 2006 biographical drama The Queen.
The late Queen had a close association with the Academy for over 50 years, giving to and supporting initiatives and attending many events.
Speaking at this year’s awards ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday in front of Prince William and Kate Middleton, fellow Bafta member Dame Helen took the stage and said: “Bafta’s relationship with Her Majesty is long-standing and without her, Bafta would not be what it is today loyal support.’
The Prince and Princess of Wales appeared touched by the honor and applauded as the actress finished her speech.
Dame Helen Mirren has remembered the Queen as the “leading star of the nation” as she led a special tribute to the late monarch at the Bafta Film Awards in her speech
“In 1953, her coronation broadcast had the whole world in view. From then on, she was undoubtedly the nation’s leading lady, but as mysterious as a silent film star.
“Who else could meet the most famous singers, actors and performers in the world and make them their supporting cast?
“During her 70-year reign, she met cinema’s greatest icons and witnessed its evolution from Hollywood’s golden age to the birth of the blockbuster. Her Majesty was in the front row for everything.’
The actress also cited the more than 50 cultural organizations the late monarch supported during her lifetime and the Bafta honorary award she received in 2013 in recognition of her “outstanding patronage of the film and television industry”.
Dame Helen continued: “Cinema at its best, does what Her Majesty effortlessly did – brings us together and unites us in one story…
“Your Majesty, you are the star of our nation. On behalf of Bafta, thank you for everything you have done for our film and television industry.’
In 1972 the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh donated the profits from the documentary Royal Family to the Society of Film and Television Arts (SFTA), which later became the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta), for new headquarters.
The organization’s renaming occurred during the official opening of the headquarters in 1976, conducted by the Queen. It remains the London home of Bafta five decades later.
During her lifetime, the Queen was Patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Royal Variety Charity and the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund.
Dame Helen called the Queen the “nation’s leading star” and added that without her “loyal support” Bafta would not be what it is today.
The Queen’s grandson, the Prince of Wales, has been President of the Bafta since 2010.
Speaking to Alison Hammond after the ceremony, Dame Helen said: “It was tough, I didn’t want to cry.
“I cried a little while rehearsing it, and I was like, ‘Well, I’m done with that,’ because I didn’t want that.
“But I had very strong feelings for the Queen, I’m Elizabethan. She was there my whole life so her death was massive.
The Prince, President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and Princess will watch the awards ceremony before meeting the category winners and nominees for the EE Rising Star Award.
The royal couple have made the event an annual date on the calendar but they last attended in 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic put the UK in lockdown.
In 2018, the couple attended when Catherine was pregnant with baby Louis, and were guests of honor in 2017 as well.
The veteran actress, 77, has portrayed the monarch on stage and screen, winning an Oscar and a Bafta for her performance in 2006 biographical drama The Queen
The EE BAFTA Film Awards is an annual celebration of the film industry’s exceptional skill, talent and craftsmanship.
For the first time, this year’s awards culminated in a live broadcast of the last four categories, allowing the audience to see the nominee’s and winner’s reactions in real time.
BAFTA is a world-leading independent arts charity, bringing the very best work in film, games and television to the public and supporting the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally.
BAFTA is committed to identifying talented individuals and ensuring they receive professional support and guidance that will enable them to be successful, regardless of their background or circumstances.
The charity offers an international program of learning events and initiatives throughout the year, including scholarships and mentoring programs.