# In 1991, Helen Mirren was “absolutely slaughtered” for a performance. Today, it’s one of her proudest moments

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1991-helen-mirren-was-absolutely-slaughtered-for-a-performance-today-its-one-of-her-proudest-moments/
- Published: 2026-11-04T13:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T10:53:17+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/helen-mirren-proud-1991-performance-slaughtered/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Mirren still considers the 1991 farce a career highlight.
- Critics’ reviews turned the production into a box-office failure.
- She values choosing roles that appeal to her creatively.

## Summary

Helen Mirren says she remains proud of starring in the 1991 farce *Sex Please, We’re Italian*, even though critics savaged it and audiences soon deserted the theatre. The experience was traumatic, but it reflects her habit of choosing roles that interest her rather than tailoring her career to audience expectations.

Mirren played Rosetta Borsi, a villager trying to stop two young lovers from marrying because they may be siblings, a secret that would expose years of affairs. Preview audiences reportedly cheered, but after the reviews turned, performances drew about ten people a night. The article contrasts the flop with her parallel work as DCI Jane Tennison in *Prime Suspect*, a role that earned her three consecutive BAFTA TV Awards.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.