{"id":472601,"date":"2026-06-11T20:42:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T20:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/472601\/"},"modified":"2026-06-11T20:42:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T20:42:10","slug":"helen-mirren-speaks-out-about-being-called-evil-zionist-on-the-street-in-london-movies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/472601\/","title":{"rendered":"Helen Mirren speaks out about being called \u2018evil Zionist\u2019 on the street in London | Movies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Helen Mirren has commented on being called an \u201cevil Zionist bitch\u201d<\/a> while being harassed in the street in London, saying she was \u201cattacked by mistake by a man who was maybe a little over passionate or maybe mentally not quite stable\u201d.<\/p>\n

Footage circulated last month of an incident, believed to have taken place last year, while Mirren was walking with her husband, film-maker Taylor Hackford. They were approached and filmed by an unidentified person, who commented on Mirren\u2019s support of Israel<\/a> and then launched a volley of abuse at her.<\/p>\n

Speaking to journalists at the Taormina film festival<\/a>, Mirren reiterated her support for the existence of the state of Israel but said: \u201cEvil forces are rising everywhere, even in a country like Israel.\u201d In reference to Israel\u2019s assault on Gaza, she said: \u201cHow could you possibly repeat the actions of what was done to you as people to other people? Crimes against humanity, it\u2019s called.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirren, who is not Jewish, added: \u201cI grew up in Europe post second world war and the realisation in my parents\u2019 generation of what had happened in the Holocaust was so profound, so important. Therefore, the creation of Israel was a very important moment, although maybe it was done in completely the wrong way, in the wrong place, I don\u2019t know. But something had to happen after the horror.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw it from the inside and I saw some things that disturbed me from the inside in Israel at that time. I\u2019m talking about six months after the six-day war.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mirren, who played Israeli prime minister Golda Meir in Guy Nattiv\u2019s 2023 biopic, has previously stated her support for Israel, including co-signing a letter alongside Gene Simmons and Boy George backing Israel\u2019s participation in Eurovision<\/a>. In 2023, Israeli media reported her as saying<\/a>: \u201cI believe in Israel, in the existence of Israel, and I believe Israel has to go forward into the future, for the rest of eternity. I believe in Israel because of the Holocaust.\u201d However, she added she would have joined protests against current Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu, saying: \u201cMy people are the people who are out demonstrating.\u201d<\/p>\n

In May, the Metropolitan police said in a statement<\/a>: \u201cWe are aware of a video circulating online, showing a man and a woman being subjected to antisemitic verbal abuse in Tower Hill. It is believed that the incident took place at the end of last year.\u201d No further action was taken<\/a> after police discussion with Mirren and Hackford.<\/p>\n

Mirren was also asked about Tom Hardy, her co-star in streaming series MobLand, who appears to have departed from the show<\/a> after reported friction with producers. Mirren posted a picture of Hardy on social media<\/a> with the caption \u201clove you now and always\u201d, and said that she would \u201cabsolutely\u201d work with Hardy again \u201cin a fucking heartbeat\u201d. She added: \u201cAs long as what\u2019s on the screen is fantastic, I\u2019m totally chilled with however someone gets there. Tom is a very special person. I think he\u2019s absolutely remarkable. My support of him is genuine and heartfelt.\u201d<\/p>\n