Actress Bai Ling has been added to Helen Mirren's bevy of beauties in a new film about a Las Vegas brothel - even though her audition was anything but normal.

Helen Mirren considers herself an honorary American, because of the support she received in the U.S. ahead of her Oscar win this year. Despite going up against American star Meryl Streep, Mirren is convinced the whole country willed her to win the Best Actress award for her role in The Queen.

Helen Mirren waited 11 years to marry her partner because her career was more exciting than any enjoyment she would get from her wedding. The Oscar-winning star, 62, wed director Taylor Hackford in 1997 following an extended courtship, and admits she wasn't in a hurry to get married.

The Queen Oscar winner Helen Mirren has bought her own castle in southern Italy.

Filmmaker Taylor Hackford's 1987 documentary Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock 'N' Roll was named Best of Show at the 2007 Music DVD Awards in Hollywood this week. The director - husband to Oscar winner Helen Mirren - beat over 100 contenders in Home Media Magazine's contest with the film about Berry's 60th birthday concert in 1986.