Which Iconic Helen Mirren Character Is Totally You?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Which Iconic Helen Mirren Character Is Totally You?
Image: Granada Productions/Pathé Renn Productions/BIM Distribuzione/France 3 Cinéma/Canal+

About This Quiz

Some actors turn into their characters, whilst other actors turn their characters into themselves. Dame Helen Mirren somehow does both at the same time. Every role she takes on is irrefutably hers, but she somehow disappears into them. Throughout her career, Helen Mirren avoided playing a single "type" of role, instead experimenting with characters coming from a broad spectrum of backgrounds, classes, and geographical origins. Never content to rest on her laurels, Helen Mirren has broadened the types of roles she plays as she advances in age, reaching new heights in her craft.

Not every role embraced by Dame Helen is or was ever intended to be high art, of course. She has voiced cartoon characters, played silly characters, and even appeared in big-budget action movies designed to make box office records, not earn BAFTAs. Even in these roles, Helen Mirren brings a seriousness of purpose and craft, elevating every role she takes on, and justifying the fees no doubt paid to have her name on the marquee. What all her characters have in common is that when one watches them, one can see oneself in them. Helen Mirren's characters are a population of relatable, charming beings with which everyone can identify. Which are you?

1 - workplace hurdle
ITV
Every profession has its challenges. What workplace hurdle is yours to overcome?
I was overlooked because of a youthful outburst.
Public scrutiny
Everyone lies.
The food is awful.

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2 - person do you care the most
Luis Alvarez/DigitalVision/Getty Images
About which person do you care the most?
Myself!
My youngest descendant
It depends on the season ...
My son

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3 - Keeping the streets safe.
Yuri_Arcurs/E+/Getty Images
Which of the following priorities is your number one?
My enemies' destruction!
The responsible preservation of culture and tradition
Keeping the streets safe
Finding a way to improve my quality of life

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4 - Queen of England
Granada Productions/Pathé Renn Productions/BIM Distribuzione/France 3 Cinéma/Canal+
Who was the greatest Queen of England?
Though technically not Queen of England, Boudica
Queen Victoria, naturally
Queen Elizabeth II. She is very much of her time.
Queen Elizabeth I. She took what she wanted.

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5 - professional reputation
zoranm/E+/Getty Images
How is your professional reputation?
I am terrifying!
I've got a good reputation, with some blemishes.
Excellent. My prospects improve every day.
I am well regarded in terms of skill if that's what you mean ...

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6 - prisoner to reveal their secrets
South_agency/E+/Getty Images
What would you do in order to get a prisoner to reveal their secrets to you?
I would use a potion.
I would order them to do so, or else put them in The Tower!
I would use "The Prisoner's Dilemma" to make them talk.
I would need to visit a hardware store first ...

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7 - Magical thinking can be dangerous
Orion Pictures
What is the most important lesson you learned in life?
Magical thinking can be dangerous.
No one will ever be happy.
Always look deeper when things seem simple.
Do not get arrested.

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8 - colleagues
ITV
What are your colleagues like?
Good in their ways, but totally useless when it comes to my set of skills.
I have none. I am at the top of the pyramid.
Mostly friendly, mostly useful
They're all scum.

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9 - spend time alone
EMS-FORSTER-PRODUCTIONS/DigitalVision/Getty Images
When do you get to spend time alone?
I spend time alone when I am at work casting my magic!
I get to spend time alone when I visit Scotland.
I spend time alone after I finish a shift at work.
I spend time alone for 12 hours a day.

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10 - trajectory of your career
Morsa Images/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Describe the trajectory of your career. Are you on the way up the ranks?
I am reaching for the sun.
I've succeeded entirely due to nepotism.
Slowly but surely, I climb the ladder.
There really aren't ranks in my field.

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11 - defeat your enemies
HBO
How far are you willing to go to defeat your enemies?
I will do anything, literally anything, to defeat them!
I will not violate what I deem to be my personal integrity.
I will work harder than anyone; however, there are some lines I cannot cross.
Lie, cheat, steal. You know, the usual.

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12 - dangers do you face
Keith Wright/DigitalVision/Getty Images
What dangers do you face on a daily basis?
Faeries mostly. Don't mess about with the standing stones.
I run the risk of being embarrassed by a close relation.
Being murdered, mostly.
Someone might speak ill of me, and I would have to dole out consequences.

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13 - companion
dowell/Moment/Getty Images
Who is your companion?
My son
My dogs
My partner, who lives with me. We are not married.
My guard. Not a bodyguard; a guard.

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14 - know the real you
Morsa Images/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Do many other people know the real you?
Few do.
Those closest to me know.
Yes, I like to think I'm an open book.
Only my children know me.

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15 - views on politics
Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd/DigitalVision/Getty Images
What are your views on politics?
Politics are great fun.
Politics are an odious necessity.
I stay away from them.
They're entertaining to watch, I suppose.

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16 - daily activity
Yew! Images/Image Source/Getty Images
What daily activity do you undertake to achieve your goals?
Practicing my craft
Staying informed about current events
Doing my job
Badgering my family

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17 - foible
Orion Pictures
What foible could be your undoing?
Pride
Fear
Courage
Greed

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18 - greatest threat
Image Source/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Which of the following people poses the greatest threat to your aims?
A weird old man
Ambitious politicians
Criminals
My own son

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19 - profession
Taiyou Nomachi/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Why did you enter your profession?
I wanted the means to control my destiny.
It is the family business.
It seemed like the right thing to do.
I'm just so good at it!

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20 - Prime Minister
Granada Productions/Pathé Renn Productions/BIM Distribuzione/France 3 Cinéma/Canal+
If you could give the Prime Minister a piece of your mind, what would you say?
Listen to my words and obey, mortal ...
At some point, all your predecessors have been hated or rejected. By their own party. By the electorate. But the good ones fight against it. Turn it around. To their advantage.
Write better laws.
Where do they keep the silver at Number 10?

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21 - romantic partner
Uwe Krejci/DigitalVision/Getty Images
How would you describe your romantic partner?
He's my brother.
He is my best friend.
A complicated man with a past I sometimes find inconvenient.
Deceased

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22 - others to view you
PeopleImages/E+/Getty Images
How do you want others to view you?
I'd like to be feared.
I'd like to be seen as worthy.
I'd like to be seen as honest.
I'd rather they did not.

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23 - live a long life
Flashpop/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Do you expect to live a long life?
Yes! Forever!
I certainly hope for one.
I have no idea.
Certainly not. Where's the fun in that?

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24 - number one charm
pixelfit/E+/Getty Images
What is your number one charm?
The Charm of Making!
I have a very naughty sense of humour.
I crack a good one-liner.
I'm Helen Mirren, darling!

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25 - relaxing
Morsa Images/DigitalVision/Getty Images
What do you do to relax?
I pull the legs off a fly.
I read.
I listen to music.
I play darts.

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26 - Gosford Park
USA Films/Capitol Films/The Film Council/Sandcastle 5 Productions/Chicagofilms/Medusa Film
Which of Helen Mirren's many works is your favourite?
"Elizabeth I"
"Eye In The Sky"
"Gosford Park"
"Monsters University"

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27 - people in charge
HBO
What do you think gives the people in charge the right to be in charge?
Might makes right
The consent of the people
Magna Carta
Nothing

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28 - violence
One Race Films/Chris Morgan Productions
With what sort of violence are you comfortable?
All manners of violence!
None
I've learned to live with a level of risk of violence, like it or not.
Cartoonish violence

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29 - Queen of England
Granada Productions/Pathé Renn Productions/BIM Distribuzione/France 3 Cinéma/Canal+
If you could become Queen of England, how would you do it?
I would kill everyone in the line of succession ahead of me!
I would do it the old fashioned way: I'd inherit it.
I suppose I'd have to marry into it.
I'd steal it.

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30 - alone in a museum
Tomas Rodriguez/Corbis/Getty Images
If you found yourself alone in a museum with a priceless artifact, what would you do?
I would lay a curse upon it for a thousand years!
I'd remind myself not to forget it when I go home.
I would try to commit its details to memory, as it is unlikely I'll see it again.
I'd take it to a fence I know, for a good price.

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