Helen Mirren

At the Edinburgh Television Festival in August 2004, director Stephen Frears revealed that he had cast Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II in a forthcoming project entitled The Queen, set during the week between the death and funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. McKean also became part of the Superman mythos when he guest starred on Smallville playing a younger Perry White. She was invested as a DBE on December 5, 2003. Annette has been married to actor Michael McKean since 1999, and in 2003 the duo were nominated for an Academy Award, among others, for their song A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow - a love duet that they had written, which was performed in the movie A Mighty Wind. She married director Taylor Hackford, her domestic partner since 1986, on 31 December 1997 in Los Angeles. She has also performed in a number of successful theater productions. In October 2001, she returned to the Superman mythos in the role of Martha Kent, Clark Kent/Superman's mother, in the television series Smallville, a role she continues to play today. The "sexy" image she acquired in her youth has been little affected by encroaching age. She had a recurring roles on the television show Nash Bridges (1996), and The Huntress (2000).

In 1972 she joined Peter Brook's International Centre for Theatre Research, and joined the group's tour across North Africa which created The Conference of the Birds. In 1990 she starred in a remake of A Girl of the Limberlost, and in Stephen King's "It". This led to her joining the Royal Shakespeare Company, playing Cressida in Troilus and Cressida, and Lady Macbeth in the production by Trevor Nunn. 1983 saw her play the part of Lois Lane's arch-rival Lana Lang in Superman III (1983). She first appeared on stage in 1965 as Cleopatra for the National Youth Theatre. In the same year, she appeared opposite Nastassja Kinski in Cat People. Mirren was born in the UK to a Russian-noble father who emigrated there in response to the Russian Revolution. Although she appeared in a number of television and theatrical movies from 1973 onward (notably as Tammy Wynette in 1981's Stand By Your Man), her first major role was as Nick Nolte's loyal girlfriend in 48 Hrs. (1982).

She is particularly well-known for her role as female detective Jane Tennison in the Prime Suspect series of television dramas. Annette began acting at a very young age doing guest appearances in shows such as My Three Sons (1960), The Virginian (1962), Gunsmoke (1955), and The Partridge Family (1970). Dame Helen Mirren (born Ilynea Lydia Mironoff July 26, 1945) is a British stage, television and movie actress. Annette O'Toole (born April 1, 1955 in Houston, Texas, USA) is an American dancer and actress. The Queen (2005). Shadowboxer (2005).

Prime Suspect 6 (2004). The Clearing (2004). Calendar Girls (2003). Gosford Park (2001).

Prime Suspect 4-5 (1995-1996). The Madness of King George (1994). Prime Suspect 1-3 (1991-1993). Where Angels Fear to Tread (1991).

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (1989). The Mosquito Coast (1986). 2010: Odyssey Two (1984). Excalibur (1981).

Caligula (1979). O Lucky Man! (1973). Age of Consent (1969).