Dame Helen Mirren, the celebrated British actress, has been honoured with a prestigious lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes. The 80-year-old screen legend received the Cecil B. DeMille Award during the Golden Eve celebration in Beverly Hills, a pre-cursor to the main ceremony.
A Vision in Pink and a Witty Acceptance
The Oscar-winning actress made a striking entrance at the event, held on Thursday, 8th January 2026. She captivated onlookers in a custom, figure-hugging pink gown designed by Stella McCartney. Upon accepting the award, Dame Helen offered a characteristically humorous and poignant reflection on the honour.
She quipped that she hoped the award was an "ongoing reflection of my career rather than a eulogy." Elaborating in her speech, she expressed a preference for viewing it as a recognition of "a life lived, a life survived, a life enjoyed, a life sweated, and a life carried on, hopefully."
Presented by a Legendary Co-Star
The special honour was presented to her by her long-time colleague and friend, Harrison Ford. The actor fondly recalled their first collaboration on the 1986 film The Mosquito Coast, where they played a married couple.
"We had three lovely children," Ford said of their characters. "The script required all of us to refer to Helen as 'Mother.'" He later reunited with Mirren for the Paramount+ series 1923, joking that he was "an afterthought" in that casting decision. Ford praised her as an "undeniable screen presence" committed to narrative and character.
Joining an Illustrious Hall of Fame
With this accolade, Dame Helen Mirren becomes the 71st recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award, joining a revered list of past winners that includes Sidney Poitier, Meryl Streep, and Morgan Freeman. Her own trophy cabinet is already laden with major awards, including an Oscar for portraying Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen, three Golden Globes, and multiple Emmy, BAFTA, and Tony Awards.
Made a Dame in 2003 and married to American film director Taylor Hackford, 81, Mirren was also seen at the Golden Eve event celebrating with fellow honouree Sarah Jessica Parker. Parker received the Carol Burnett Award for her achievements in television, attended by her husband Matthew Broderick and son James.
The main Golden Globes ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, 11th January 2026, and will be hosted for a second time by comedian Nikki Glaser.
