Helen Mirren says her SAG Lifetime Achievement Award win is a ‘moment for reflection’

Virgin Radio

23 Feb 2022, 13:00

With a career spanning over fifty years, Helen Mirren certainly has a lot of incredible roles to look back on and celebrate.

The Oscar-winner will be adding the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Lifetime Achievement Award statue to her mantelpiece this weekend (Sunday 27th February).

For Helen, the prestigious prize is most certainly ‘a big deal’, but she admitted while chatting on ITV's Lorraine that it’s almost a bittersweet moment. 

She explained: “I didn't quite grasp how big a deal it was. There's a great feeling of pride, wow me, really? There's a slight sting in the tail as well of, oh gosh.”

While proud to pick up the award, Helen revealed it feels a bit like a signal that her illustrious career might be coming to an end. 

She continued: “You are in a way, coming to the end of the road. Certainly the end of the road is in sight where it wasn't 20 years ago. It's a moment for reflection.

“Do I deserve this? How did I get here? Was it luck or agency on my part?”

Helen will be presented with her trophy at the annual awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday 27th February, and she can add it to the shelf with her Oscar, Tony, Emmy and BAFTA Awards, presumably lined up next to her five other SAG Awards. 

According to SAG-AFTRA, the union behind the awards, Helen is the ‘most decorated’ SAG Lifetime Achievement Award winner. 

It’s not the first time Helen has conveyed complete shock about receiving the incredible accolade. 

When speaking to You Magazine, she said: “Yes, it’s extraordinary. I genuinely do not feel I remotely deserve it, except that I’m still alive and working.

“I’ve done some wonderful films and I’ve done some pretty awful films. It took me by surprise, completely. A great honour.”

Lorraine airs daily on weekdays from 9am on ITV. 

The 2022 SAG Awards will take place on Sunday 27th February.