The clip of the Thursday Murder Club star soon went viral after the horrible interaction.
Dame Helen Mirren was harrassed in the streets by a pro-Palestine activist (Image: antifascistactionuk/instagram)
Dame Helen Mirren was branded an “evil Zionist b****” by a pro-Palestine stranger in the streets of London. A clip of the horrible moment, first shared by an anonymous account called Anti-Fascist Action UK, sees the Oscar-winning actress, 80, being approached in the streets with her husband, Taylor Hackford. At first, the Thursday Murder Club star appeared calm and polite as she greeted the stranger and asked if he was okay.
It didn’t take long before the encounter turned tense as the strange man launched into an abusive rant over her support for Israel. He told her: “And there is Helen Mirren, the avowed Zionist.
Her husband Taylor Hackford repeated told the videographer to leave them alone (Image: antifascistactionuk/instagram)
“You said Israel should last forever because of the Holocaust. And she was very happy that the Palestinians’ houses were gone. You are an evil Zionist b****. And you [Mr Hackford] as well, f*** you as well.”
As the situation grew increasingly hostile, Mr Hackford stepped in and repeatedly told the man to “f*** off” and leave them alone. The award-winning actress has long been outspoken in her support for Israel and opposition to cultural boycotts against the country.
Last month, the Hollywood icon signed an open letter backing Israel’s inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest alongside fellow famous faces such as Amy Schumer, Mila Kunis, Sharon Osbourne and Boy George. She has also portrayed several notable Jewish figures on the big screen, including Maria Altmann in Woman in Gold and former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in the 2023 hit film, Golda.
She previously said about Israel: “I 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.” The actress made the comments during an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 in 2023 while promoting Golda, which followed Meir’s leadership during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
The Hollywood actress has been outspoken about her defence of Israel in recent years (Image: Penske Media via Getty Images)
Mirren also revealed that some people had attempted to persuade her not to take the role because of Israel’s controversial position on the world stage. But she quickly defended her decision, insisting: “I’ve met such extraordinary people in Israel.
“I know there is a base, a foundation of deep intelligence, thoughtfulness, commitment, poetry even in Israel that is very, very special.” The British star first visited Israel back in 1967, shortly after the Six-Day War ended, where she volunteered on Kibbutz HaOn near the Sea of Galilee before hitchhiking across the country.
She has also spoken out strongly against cultural boycotts of Israel, arguing that abandoning Israeli artists would be counterproductive. Despite her support for Israel’s right to exist, Dame Helen has also added that she does not support every action of the Israeli government and has voiced concern over the country’s political direction.
