Helen Mirren glides into Tel Aviv

March 18, 2009 - 2:17 PM by David · Leave a Comment
Filed under: General, Movies, Pop Culture

Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth

There’s royalty in Tel Aviv. At least silver screen royalty. Academy Award winning actress Helen Mirren, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in 2006 film The Queen, is currently in the country filming scenes for her upcoming feature.

It’s called The Debt, and it’s an English adaption of the well-received 2007 Israeli original thriller, called Ha Hov (right… The Debt). That film, directed by Assaf Bernstein and starring Gila Almagov, is about three Israeli Mossad agents tracking down a Nazi war criminal over 30 years.

According to Internet gossip sites, the 63-year-old actress spent alot of time learning Hebrew and researching Israeli history, Nazism and the Mossad for her role. I tried to get in touch with her to ask her a question in Hebrew, but the on set publicist must have taken some lessons from the Mossad as well, as she was quite evasive.

A poster for Ha Hov

But I did talk to Assaf Bernstein, before a gag order was placed on the film’s production, and he was thrilled.

“Imitation is the highest form of flattery, so even if they end up changing the movie into something else, it will still be amazing,” he said.

The Mirimax film is being directed by veteran John Madden who said this about Mirren to some Hollywood trade magazines.

“Helen Mirren is the perfect choice for the central role – a national celebrity and retired Mossad agent, a formidable and dignified woman grappling with years of emotional disappointment, suddenly confronted by a powerful and unexpected choice.”

We’re not sure if he’s talking about the choice Mirren will have make in Tel Aviv between falafel and shwarma, but we’re sure looking forward to seeing the Queen stroll on the promenade during one of her days off.

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