Now perched atop her mantelpiece, between a Bafta and an Oscar, now rests a 2013 Olivier award for best actress which was won by some margin for her sterling performance as the Queen in The Audience.

 

It was a case of fourth time lucky for the actress who has was nominated in 1983 for Anthony and Cleopatra but had never previously scooped the prestigious award and she paid homage to the subject of her performance as the inspiration. She said the award was won not because she was the best actress, but “I think it is a reflection of the respect the Queen is held in.”

 

Gratefully accepting the award, Dame Helen paid tribute to the Queen’s recent honorary Bafta for a lifetime of support of British film and television and beamed: “The Queen has already won a Bafta this year; I think she’s going to be thrilled with an Olivier Award as well.”

 

Despite its wonderful reviews and sold-out tickets, The Audience missed out the award for best new play, which was scooped by The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – the biggest winner of the night.