All Hail Helen Mirren! Oscar Winner to Play Queen Elizabeth (Again!) in the West End's The Audience

Two-time Tony nominee and Oscar winner Helen Mirren will play Queen Elizabeth II in a West End production of Peter Morgan’s new play The Audience. Directed by Stephen Daldry, the drama will play London's Gielgud Theatre beginning February 15, 2013. Opening night is set for March 5 and the production will run through June 15. Further casting will be announced at a later date.

The Audience follows the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 to the Diamond Jubilee in 2012. For 60 years the Queen has sat with all of England's Prime Ministers for private, weekly meetings at Buckingham Palace. The Audience hopes to break the silence on these highly secretive meetings. Morgan wrote the screenplay for the hit 2006 film The Queen, which also starred Mirren as Elizabeth II. Mirren won an Academy Award for her portrayal of the Queen of England.

Mirren earned Tony nominations for A Month in the Country and Dance of Death. Mirren’s London theater credits include Teeth ‘n’ Smiles, The Seagull, Henry VI, The Roaring Girl, Two Way Mirror and Some Kind of Love Story. Her film and TV credits include The Debt, Excalibur, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Frasier and a cameo as Becky’s Inner Voice on Glee.