Helen Mirren is a living legend and one of the best actresses to ever grace film. So, when it was announced, years ago, that she was happily joining the ‘Fast & Furious’ film franchise, people were slightly taken aback. The Helen Mirren in a ‘Fast & Furious’ film? Now, after three appearances in that franchise, Mirren is a fixture in Vin Diesel’s “family.” And according to the actress, this isn’t by mistake.
Speaking to THR, Helen Mirren talked about the situation that led to her starring in multiple ‘Fast & Furious’ films. Would you believe she was the one who desperately wanted to star opposite Diesel in the films? Well, it’s the truth.
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“I didn’t ask, I begged!” admitted Mirren. “I think I was at some function, and he was there, and I got introduced to him. And I was shameless: ‘Oh God, I’d just love to be in one of your movies! Please let me be in it.’ And then Vin, with that beautiful, deep voice of his, said: ‘I’ll see what I can do.’”
She continued, “And he did it for me. He found this great little role for me, which was perfect. I’d just never done anything like that before — one of those big, big movies. And, in my vanity, I just loved driving and really wanted to do my own driving in a fast car.”
Mirren ended up being cast as Magdalene Shaw, the mother of Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw, in “The Fate of the Furious.” From there, she also appeared in “Hobbs & Shaw,” as well as last year’s “F9.”
So, if you were of the mindset that Vin Diesel probably had to woo Mirren into slumming it for a spot in the ‘F&F’ franchise, you’re dead wrong. Helen Mirren is ecstatic to be part of the family.