Helen Mirren awarded the Stanislavsky prize at the Moscow International Film Festival

Helen Mirren was awarded the Stanislavsky prize as the Moscow Film Festival finished Saturday night after nine days and 380 films. Mirren, who is half-Russian, was given the award whose full title is the mouthy “The Special Prize for the Outstanding Achievement in the Career of Acting and Devotion to the Principles of the K. Stanislavsky School.”

The award was present by Channel One head Konstantin Ernst. “She is a real theatrical actress, a real cinematographic queen,” said Ernst, who when she came on stage proclaimed: “Your majesty, I am happy to give you this award.”

One of Mirren's most famous roles was playing Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 film “The Queen,” for which she won an Academy Award. She has played queens six times in movies over the years.

Ernst also said Mirren should feel at home because her real name is Yelena Vasilyevna Mironova — Mirren is half-Russian on her father's side. Mirren said she was proud to receive the award from her own people.

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.