Helen Mirren Gets Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star

Oscar-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren is Queen of Hollywood after she was honoured with a star on the Walk of Fame.

She was accompanied by her husband Taylor Hackford and two sons at the ceremony where she joked about her star's proximity to that of The King's Speech actor Colin Firth.

She said: "I couldn't be prouder and more happy that I'm actually going to finally lie next to Colin Firth, something I've been wanting to do for a very long time."

Dame Helen, 67, who won the best actress Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in The Queen is the 2,488th recipient since the Walk of Fame began in 1958.

"Well I'm very pleased and proud and I think it's very good for the British monarchy that here on Hollywood Boulevard, the King and the Queen are going to actually sleep together, for the rest of history," she said at the unveiling.

The actress posed for photographers lying on her side next to her star and blew kisses to the crowd.

Writer and director David Mamet introduced Dame Helen, telling the crowd: "Helen's performances reap higher praise than being praised, they're loved.

"And by one who's had the absolute kick of working with her, I want to say as Rupert Brooke said, somewhere there will be a little piece of foreign ground that is always a bit of England, and that's right there."

Others due to receive a star this year include Javier Bardem, James Franco and singers Jennifer Hudson and Usher.

Dame Helen's latest film is alongside Sir Anthony Hopkins in Hitchcock, in which she plays the director's wife Alma. It is released in the UK in February.

The role has already won her nominations for a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award.