British acting legend and Hollywood star unrecognisable in new movie – can you guess who it is?

A BRITISH acting legend and Hollywood star is completely unrecognisable in their new movie – but can you guess who it is?

She is transforming into powerful women from Elizabeth I to Catherine the Great and the late Queen.

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This time the Oscar winning star nails the look of chain-smoking former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in new movie Golda.

Wearing facial prosthetics and a straggly, grey wig, Helen Mirren, 78, hunches over a window in photos from the upcoming war biopic.

Also wearing a fatsuit to play the country’s first female PM, Helen previously spoke about taking on the role.

Dame Helen said: “She was a formidable, intransigent and powerful leader.

“I only hope I do her justice.”

However, not everyone wanted Helen to play the historical figure.

Coronation Street actress and fellow Dame, Maureen Lipman, has questioned the decision to cast Helen in the Jewish role.

Dame Maureen, 75, from Hull, told the Jewish Chronicle in January: “The Jewishness of the character is so integral.

“I’m sure she will be marvellous, but it would never be allowed for Ben Kingsley to play Nelson Mandela.

“You just couldn’t even go there.”

Addressing her comments a month later, Helen said on ‘Jewface-ing’ – the casting of non-Jews in Jewish roles: “If the ethnicity or gender of the character drives the role, then that ethnicity should be prioritised.

“It was certainly a question that I had, before I accepted the role.

“I do believe it is a discussion that has to be had – it’s utterly legitimate.”

However, she added to The Guardian: “You know, if someone who’s not Jewish can’t play Jewish, does someone who’s Jewish play someone who’s not Jewish?”

Helen continued to reason: “There’s a lot of terrible unfairness in my profession.

“If there’s an actor who’s disabled, who’s brilliant but has had very few opportunities, and now a wonderful role comes along that’s for a disabled actor, everything being righteous, he or she should have that role.”

She also addressed the casting issue around gay actors being allowed to play only gay roles.

She said: “I know actors like Ian McKellen would, I think, take big issue with that, because what happens then if you’re a gay actor?

“Shouldn’t you be able to play straight parts? Is this really a path you want to go down?”

The actress was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for Services to the Performing Arts.

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