Dame Helen Mirren is one of the most acclaimed and decorated actresses of stage and screen. Over her storied career spanning over 50 years, Mirren has starred in countless films, television shows, and plays. She has taken on roles ranging from Queen Elizabeth II to police detective Jane Tennison to Russian empress Catherine the Great.
Outside of her acting projects, Mirren has also appeared in numerous high-profile commercials and ad campaigns over the years. Her regal demeanor and authoritative presence make her an ideal spokesperson and brand ambassador.
What Companies and Products Has Helen Mirren Promoted?
Helen Mirren has lent her acting talents and distinctive voice to commercials and ads for many major companies and products over her career. Some of the most notable include:
L’Oréal
One of Mirren’s longest and most famous associations has been serving as a brand ambassador for L’Oréal hair and beauty products. She has been appearing in ads and commercials for L’Oréal since 2014.
Some of Mirren’s popular L’Oréal commercials include ads for:
- Age Perfect skincare and makeup targeted at mature women
- Excellence hair color
- Elvive shampoo and conditioner
In the whimsical and empowering L’Oréal ads, Mirren exudes elegance and encourages women, especially those her age, to embrace their natural beauty.
British Airways
From 2010 to 2013, Mirren starred in several acclaimed commercials for British Airways. The clever and engaging spots promoted British Airways first and business class services.
With her trademark wit and subtle gravitas, Mirren personified the history, technological innovation, and customer care of the airline. The entertaining commercials were:
- “A Dozen Shakespearean Insults”
- “Visit Mum”
- “The Aunt vs The Uncle”
“I’ve always enjoyed travelling on British Airways. They take great pride in their traditions, just as I do.” – Helen Mirren
Absolute Vodka
Mirren brought her royal screen presence as Queen Elizabeth II into cheeky commercials for Absolute Vodka in 2009. The ads lightheartedly played up Mirren’s famous role as the Queen interacting with iconic Absolute vodka bottle shapes.
The witty concept led to fun spots like “Queen of the Castle” showing Elizabeth debating ideas with members of her Privy Council for cocktail recipes using Absolute flavored vodkas.
Wii Fit
Adding to a long list of A-List actors like Mariah Carey and Nicole Kidman promoting the Nintendo Wii gaming system and Wii Fit, Mirren starred in the 2008 Wii Fit commercial “A New Me”.
In the charming ad shot cinema verite style, Mirren tries out the exercise program in her home and becomes visibly excited about using it. Critics praised Mirren’s performance as bringing an admirable authenticity and relatability.
Sky Broadband
As part of a star-studded team including actress and Harry Potter legend Julie Walters, Mirren appeared in an amusing 2005 commercial for Sky Broadband in the UK.
The tongue-in-cheek ad shows Mirren and Walters as students in a spy academy unsuccessfully trying to share files online before the ultra-fast speeds of Sky Broadband.
What Made Helen Mirren an Effective Commercial Actress?
Throughout her storied career, Helen Mirren has cemented herself as one of the great actresses of her generation on both stage and screen. Many of those same qualities that make her such a revered thespian also make her an ideal fit as a commercial pitchwoman. Mirren’s unique traits as a commercial actress include:
Authoritative Elegance
With her regal yet welcoming demeanor and distinctly crisp English accent, Mirren immediately grabs attention while putting audiences at ease. Her distinguished presence conveys integrity and sophistication that gives weight to any product or brand she endorses.
Clever Wit
While Mirren certainly can emphasize drama and pathos with the best of them, she’s also blessed with an incisive wit and good comic timing. She smartly leans into her refinement and subtle humor to sell products in a charming, lighthearted style without talking down to audiences.
Cultural Familiarity
After over five decades as one of England and Hollywood’s most vaunted actresses on screens big and small, Mirren has become a beloved household name to viewers worldwide. That familiarity and likability allows her to forge quick connections with audiences.
Cross-Generational Appeal
Equally popular among younger and older audiences, Mirren lends products multi-demographical appeal. Millennials admire her modern stylishness and candor while older consumers respond to her old school glamor and wisdom – allowing brands to court wider target markets.
What Other Major Commercial Actresses are Comparable to Helen Mirren?
While Helen Mirren undoubtedly possesses her own unique flair and attributes, her uncommon success and embracement as a commercial actress have drawn comparisons to other vaunted actresses who have similarly thrived as advertising ambassadors and product endorsers throughout their careers, including:
Julia Roberts
Roberts has rivaled Mirren for the title of top commercial actress of her generation thanks starring in major campaigns for brands like Lancôme, Givenchy, and Calzedonia. Roberts conveys similar grace, likability, and intelligence as Mirren allowing them to shine across formats from TV ads to online to print.
Jennifer Aniston
With her media dominance and overall star wattage, Aniston’s put her America’s Sweetheart image to good promotional use as brand ambassador for Aveeno, Smartwater, and Eyelove among others. Aniston emits a similar charming yet empowered sensibility to products as her British peer.
Jane Fonda
As respected actresses and icons who remain highly prolific later in their careers, Mirren and Fonda make for quite a comparison as esteemed elder stateswomen of commercials. Fonda’s pushed products as varied as L’Oréal, Virgin Active gyms, and TD Ameritrade with the same wisdom and energy as Mirren.
What Do Critics and Fans Say About Helen Mirren’s Commercial Roles?
Throughout her various high-profile acting roles in commercials for major international brands, Helen Mirren has earned plaudits from fans and critics alike. Reviews of Mirren specifically as a product spokeswoman and endorsement figure have included:
Great Display of Range
“Dame Helen’s legendary range extends from Shakespearean theatre to appearing opposite sassy CGI cocktail glasses. Her ability to lend real integrity while interacting so gamely with vodka and broadband alike show why she’s in a class by herself as an advertising presence.” – AdWeek
Utilization of Innate Strengths
“Mirren isn’t slumming it or selling out her prestige by promoting mass market brands. Rather, she smartly leverages her signature qualities of intelligence, dryness, and touch of royalty that have served her so authoritatively across performances.” – Variety
Figure of Recent Shift
“Along with the likes of Robert De Niro and Bryan Cranston embracing comedy in ads, Mirren’s served as one of the pioneers demonstrating how the stuffiest of thespians can fruitfully engage in lighter commercial fare once considered beneath their talent level.” – New Yorker
Conclusion
In conclusion, Dame Helen Mirren has cemented herself as one of the most acclaimed and respected actresses of her generation on both stage and screen. Her decorated career, spanning over 50 years, includes countless honors like an Oscar, multiple Emmys and BAFTAs, and a Damehood.
Outside of her acting projects, Mirren has also embraced memorable roles as a prominent commercial pitchwoman for major international brands like L’Oréal, British Airways, Absolute Vodka, and Nintendo’s Wii Fit. With her regal yet down-to-earth presence and subtle wit, she makes for an excellent product ambassador – equally at ease promoting beauty goods as she is showing off her comedic flair alongside CGI vodka bottles.
While Mirren plans to continue captivating audiences with prestige films and shows in the years to come, fans can likely expect her familiar elegant figure to keep gracing their TV screens in clever and entertaining commercial spots as well. Brands will surely keep calling upon Dame Helen to infuse their campaigns with her signature grace and relatable charm.
FAQs About Helen Mirren’s Commercials
What was Helen Mirren’s first commercial?
While Mirren has starred in many famous commercials in recent decades, her first major commercial role came in 1992 when she wrote and starred in an informercial called Helen Mirren’s Prime Suspect Workout. The 30-minute video featured Mirren doing various workout routines inspired by her police detective character on the hit show Prime Suspect.
What commercial did Helen Mirren win an award for?
In 2013, Mirren won an award at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for her “A Dozen Shakespearean Insults” commercial for British Airways. She earned a Silver Award in the Transport & Tourism, Travel category celebrating her witty role bringing Shakespeare into the amusing airline ad.
What beauty product ads has Helen Mirren been in?
Mirren has been the face of iconic beauty brand L’Oréal Paris since 2014, starring in commercials and ads for products like Age Perfect makeup and skincare, Excellence hair color, Elvive shampoo, and more. She has focused on empowering mature women in these charming and sincere beauty campaigns.
How much does Helen Mirren get paid for commercials?
While Mirren’s exact salaries are undisclosed, as a world famous Oscar-winning actress she likely commands payment in the mid to high six figures and occasional seven figures to appear in endorsement adverts and marketing campaigns for global companies.
What makes Helen Mirren a successful commercial actress?
With her inherent gravitas, intelligence, and dry wit combined with her cultural familiarity and cross-generational likability after a 50+ year acting career, Mirren is uniquely equipped to promote products. She lends an authoritative elegance yet down-to-earth charm and subtle humor that engages audiences.