Power Passion

Dame Helen Mirren blazes a trail as Russia’s strong-minded, sexually liberated monarch Catherine the Great

- Richard Mcclure, Jack White

Over the course of her long and successful career, Dame Helen Mirren has given her take on various royal figures – including Queen Charlotte in The Madness of King George, her Emmy-winning performance in TV series Elizabeth I, and her Oscar-winning portrayal of Elizabeth II in The Queen.

Now, the actress adds another compelling and unforgettable royal ruler to her glittering CV as she heads the cast of Sky Atlantic’s sumptuous new drama Catherine the Great.

Written by Nigel Williams, who penned Mirren’s 2005 series Elizabeth I, the four-part drama was filmed in Russia, Lithuania and Latvia and follows the formidable 18th-century Empress of Russia during her momentous later years as she transforms the nation into one of Europe’s greatest powers.

It also reveals the political and sexual intrigue that surrounded Catherine’s colourful court, including her passionate romance with military officer Grigory Potemkin (Jason Clarke).

We caught up with Mirren, 74, to find out more about the series…