Helen Mirren.. A Cinematic Journey in Service of the Israeli Narrative from 'Kibbutz' to 'Golda'

The relationship of British actress Helen Mirren with Israel is not just a fleeting detail in her long artistic career; rather, it is a close bond that spans decades. From her experience in a 'kibbutz' after the 1967 war to her portrayal of Golda Meir, Mirren moves in a thorny area that blends art with explicit political stances. This commitment recently led her to face public criticism in the streets of London, where she was described as an 'outspoken Zionist'.

Mirren won an Academy Award in 2006 for her role in the film 'The Queen', in which she embodied the character of Elizabeth II in the aftermath of Princess Diana's death. In this work, she excelled at portraying the conflict between emotion and strict royal duty. However, it seems that in her real life, Mirren abandons this reserve when it comes to her absolute support for Israel, a stance that sparks much controversy.

Activists recently circulated a video showing Mirren and her husband, director Taylor Hackford, in a verbal altercation with someone who described her as an evil Zionist. Although the video may be from last year, its re-sharing coincided with escalating political tensions. Her husband angrily responded to these accusations, while Mirren remained silent at that moment, despite her previous statements leaving no doubt about her leanings.

In August 2023, while promoting the film 'Golda', Mirren told Israeli Channel 12 of her deep belief in Israel's survival 'forever'. She considered the Hebrew state an exceptional place, expressing her nostalgia for the period she spent there in her youth. These statements brought renewed attention to her political identity, which constantly intersects with her cinematic roles.

This connection dates back to 1967, when Mirren visited Israel with a Jewish friend and volunteered to work at 'Kibbutz Ha'on' near Lake Tiberias. Mirren describes that experience as 'magical', where she worked picking grapes and in the kitchen. Since then, Mirren began to establish an emotional and intellectual relationship with the Zionist project, which was later reflected in her professional choices.

Over the years, Mirren has played multiple roles serving the Israeli and Jewish narrative, including that of a Mossad agent in the 2010 film 'The Debt'. For this role, she studied Hebrew and the history of the 'Holocaust' for several months to ensure accuracy in her performance. She also participated in the film 'Woman in Gold', which deals with the recovery of Jewish property from the Austrian government, further solidifying her presence as a cinematic face associated with these issues.

'Golda' in 2023 is the pinnacle of Mirren's career linked to Israel, as she portrayed the prime minister who managed the 1973 war. The film, directed by Israeli Guy Nattiv, focused on the three weeks of the war from a purely Israeli perspective. Despite Mirren's strong performance, critics considered the work artistically mediocre and overtly politically biased.

'Golda' began with archival footage of the 1948 Nakba and ended with the signing of the Camp David Accords, attempting to portray Golda Meir as a lone leader struggling to save her state. The film completely omitted the Arab side of the conflict, showing Egyptians or Syrians only as enemies in the shadows. This deliberate omission reflects the one-sided vision adopted by both the work and the actress.

Some critics see a similarity between Mirren's performance in 'Golda' and her performance in 'The Queen' in terms of silence and reserve, but the comparison seems unfair. In 'The Queen', silence expressed a deep human dimension and a real internal struggle, while in 'Golda', the performance seemed stereotypical and confined by cigarette smoke. The political and promotional aspects in 'Golda' overshadowed the dramatic value of the work.

Mirren defended her acceptance of the role despite the controversy surrounding Golda Meir's policies towards Palestinians, claiming she is merely an actress playing a historical role. She stated that she does not seek to justify the character's actions, but to portray a woman of a certain age dealing with a complex situation. However, her personal history and pro-occupation statements make it difficult to believe her artistic neutrality.

Mirren considered Golda Meir's rise to power an 'amazing moment' for women around the world, ignoring the bloody legacy of that era. This fascination with Meir's character is consistent with Mirren's constant rejection of the cultural boycott of Israel. Despite her occasional timid criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu's policies, she remains committed to her fundamental support for the occupying entity.

Mirren faced criticism from within the Jewish community in Hollywood, where some objected to a non-Jewish actress playing the character of Golda. In response, Mirren spoke about the need to maintain a 'delicate balance' when portraying characters from different cultures. But this balance that Mirren seeks seems completely absent when it comes to the rights or suffering of Palestinians.

Mirren was born in London in 1945 to a father of Russian descent and a British mother, and began her theatrical career at the age of twenty. She excelled in classical roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company before moving to the big screen. Despite the diversity of her roles between queens and historical figures, her bias towards Israel remains a distinctive and controversial mark in her history.

Helen Mirren remains a model of the Western intellectual and artist who consciously adopts the Zionist narrative, using her artistic tools to reinforce it. While she continues to win awards and global recognition, she is pursued by her political stances, which many see as an unethical bias against the rights of the Palestinian people. Her career will always be a subject of debate between artistic creativity and humanistic stance.

I am a believer in Israel, and I believe it is an extraordinary country full of very extraordinary people.