Helen Mirren is known for her commanding screen presence and glamorous image. However, her latest role required her to leave that polished image behind. The Oscar winner transforms into author Patricia Highsmith in A Talent for Murder. Mirren embraced a much more severe look for the psychological thriller. The transformation helped her portray the reclusive author of The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Helen Mirren on how playing the “Talented Mr. Ripley” author pushed her to ditch her glamorous image
Mirren said she “had to let go” of her vanity while preparing to play Highsmith. Her Helen Mirren transformation included a dowdy brown wig, simple menswear, and very little makeup, according to People.
That was not necessarily easy for the 81-year-old actress. “I like to look good!” Mirren admitted while discussing the dramatic change.
Still, the stripped-down appearance helped her immerse herself in the role of Patricia Highsmith. Mirren plays a highly fictionalized version of the bestselling writer. Highsmith was famously private and created the calculating character Tom Ripley.
A Talent for Murder follows Highsmith during her isolated life in Switzerland. Her routine changes when a young publishing executive arrives. Alden Ehrenreich plays the publishing executive who tries to persuade her to write another novel.
However, Highsmith turns their encounter into a tense psychological game. Anton Corbijn directs the thriller, which arrives in theaters Oct. 23.
The project also gave Mirren another chance to portray a real-life figure. Her past roles include Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen and Golda Meir in Golda. However, her latest role required a particularly unglamorous physical transformation.
Mirren has already been promoting the movie alongside Ehrenreich and Olivia Cooke. During an earlier interview, she also revealed that she avoids visiting doctors and instead turns to AI for answers to medical questions.
Olivia Cooke also stars in A Talent for Murder. For Mirren, portraying Highsmith meant setting aside her usual glamorous appearance. It allowed the character’s darker and more unsettling qualities to take over.
