Dame shame: Helen Mirren says movie bias casts too many Brits as villains

Posted on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 08:57 AM

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When Amy grows up she wants to look like the British actress Helen Mirren (above).

Cool, sophisticated, talented, hard-working, and even best of all, she has no children! Finally a non-traditional role model. And she's 64!

However, poor old Helen's getting her knickers in a knot over Brit villains in films.

She says there are far too many British people playing the bad guys in movies.

Speaking at an event in Los Angeles Helen said British actors were an "easy target". "I think it's rather unfortunate that the villain in every movie is always British," she said.

Ah Helen, don't you know that's because to the rest of the world, the British ARE the villains.

Just ask the Indians, Pakistanis, Palestinians, Bangladeshis, Iraqis, oh you get the message.

And of course Ireland.

Growing up in Ireland the kid putting on the English accent was ALWAYS the villain, or at least a member of the wildly dysfunctional royal family.

Helen, who won the Best Actress Oscar in 2007 for playing Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen," says people think being British is all about being royal.

"It's important to let Americans know that we're not just the Royal family – there's a lot more to us than that".

"It's just nice to say we're not snooty, stuck-up, malevolent, malignant creatures as we're often portrayed. We're actually kind of cool and hip! I love the idiosyncracy of the British people, I love the eccentric nature," she said.

Hmm.. Well, 800 years of history later, the Irish have quite a different view!

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Biff | Aug 24, 2012, 05:15 PM EDT

Fck the English.Class ridden murderous prcks who ra ped Ireland and Scotland.

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curtisjohnson | Aug 23, 2012, 07:21 PM EDT

Good points, Yodamite and patconrey. The casting of brits needs to be reduced dramatically and they should be portrayed more realistically in a manner consistent with their evil, degenerate nature.

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Yodamite | Jun 26, 2010, 05:56 AM EDT

Hellen Mirren should not be complaining. Hollywood is casting far too many Brits, period. Minorities get the shaft in American TV and movies (particularly Asian-Americans). Yet, if we are to believe the stereotypical cast of a sitcom or drama, there is one Brit for every half-dozen people in America. Hellen Mirren, you have a job, quit your whining.

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patconrey | Apr 23, 2010, 04:18 PM EDT

Let's not forget those people on the west side of the Atlantic, US! The 1776 document was all about calling the Brits villains. Then there was our war of 1812 and the problems they created with kidnapping and selling in humans. But the list goes on to countries like India and their various colonies in Africa, etc. etc. etc.

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Canadian | Apr 23, 2010, 11:28 AM EDT

Dame Helen herself has a lot of pro-Irish sympathy as evidenced by her long relationship with Liam Neeson and her role in the movie "Some Mother's Son" which was not too kindly to the Brits. Her remark "An easy target" is well deserved by the Brits - not British actors as reported above.

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killowen | Apr 23, 2010, 11:17 AM EDT

The Brits being the perpetrators of nigh all the ills that Obama is trying to set right. And to have a zero Brit actress complain is quite comedic. Eh, Gov. On British TV the Irish are constantly portrayed as drunk, lazy and odd .. but were they to achieve success they become British and given knightings. Funny land of Merry O so revered by their supporter American Cousin. We all pay dearly for such a love affair.

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brennanirish | Apr 23, 2010, 10:19 AM EDT

On British TV the Irish are constantly portrayed as drunk, lazy and odd........

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jamthecat | Apr 23, 2010, 09:52 AM EDT

Now, now, Amy...don't get your knickers in a bunch. Dame Helen's right. And the Irish, Indians, Pakistanis, Palestinians, Bangladeshis, Iraqis and Afghans (don't forget how England tried to take them over 150 years ago) haven't exactly been nice to each other, either. Fact is, right now it's the Americans who're exhibiting the worst tendencies of Empire Building. Guess we're set to be the next villains in the movies.

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