Helen Mirren: The 'Thursday Murder Club' Star Who Refuses to Retire in Her Old Age

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Legendary British actress Helen Mirren returns to the spotlight with her stunning performance in the latest film, "The Thursday Murder Club."

In this adaptation of Richard Osman's best-selling novel, Helen Mirren plays Elizabeth Best, a former MI5 agent who leads a group of retired detectives.

The film is scheduled to be released on Netflix on August 28, 2025, adding to the Oscar-winning actress's long list of quality work.

As she approaches 80, questions have arisen about her retirement plans.

Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie star in THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB. Directed by Chris Columbus. Now playing. Four retirees who solve cold cases for fun find themselves with a murder on their very own doorstep. pic.twitter.com/7FPofdeurH

— Netflix (@netflix) August 28, 2025

Born Ilyena Lydia Mironoff on July 26, 1945, in Hammersmith, London, England, Helen Mirren has an interesting background.

Her father changed the family name to 'Mirren' when she was around nine years old.

Mirren now holds dual citizenship in the United Kingdom and the United States, having become a US citizen in 2017 to run in the presidential election.

Helen Mirren's career began at the age of 18 at the National Youth Theatre, where she played Cleopatra in 'Antony and Cleopatra' in 1965.

This outstanding performance paved the way for her to join the Royal Shakespeare Company, one of the world's most prestigious theatre institutions.

After four influential years at the RSC, she explored new directions, working with renowned director Peter Brook and touring Africa and the Americas.

She is the only individual to have achieved the "Triple Crown of Acting" in both the US and the UK, encompassing an Academy Award, five Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award.

Her culmination of recognition came when she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in the film "The Queen" (2006).

In addition to the Oscar, Mirren has also received four BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, five Screen Actors Guild Awards, and one Laurence Olivier Award.

In 2003, Queen Elizabeth II awarded her the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her outstanding contribution to drama.

Other iconic roles include detective Jane Tennison in the series "Prime Suspect" and Queen Elizabeth I in the HBO miniseries "Elizabeth I."

In "The Thursday Murder Club," Helen Mirren brings to life the character of Elizabeth Best, a brilliant and charismatic former MI5 agent.

Elizabeth is the leader of a group of four retirees who enjoy investigating cold cases in their retirement village in England.

Mirren herself admitted to having read Richard Osman's novel years ago and was immediately drawn to the role of Elizabeth, a feeling she rarely experiences.

The film is an adaptation of Richard Osman's best-selling novel and is directed by Chris Columbus.

Helen Mirren is not alone in this project; she stars alongside a number of other big names, including Pierce Brosnan as Ron, Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim, and Celia Imrie as Joyce.

Helen Mirren's performance in "The Thursday Murder Club" has received praise for her ability to bring "gravity and sly humor" to her role.

One moment in the film has even been called reminiscent of her Oscar-winning performance as Queen Elizabeth II, demonstrating the depth of her timeless acting.

Despite reaching 80 years of age, Helen Mirren has consistently dismissed retirement rumors and asserted that she has no plans to stop acting.

She stated that she will continue her career as long as the projects she is offered are interesting and she feels mentally and physically capable of doing them.

As reported by USA Today, Helen Mirren said,"We love our work and I think we are very lucky in that our work doesn't have a sort of cutoff date, you know?"

"If you're lucky enough to keep going, you keep going," she says, hinting her retirement won't happened in a short time.

Interestingly, in February 2022, Dame Helen Mirren hinted at possible retirement while accepting a lifetime achievement award, stating that "the end of the road is in sight."