One of Mirren's main reasons for taking the gritty role is that the film is directed and produced by her husband, Oscar-winner Taylor Hackford. Love Ranch is the first time they have worked together since 1984's White Nights, the movie which introduced them. Mirren loved teaming up with Devil's Advocate and Ray director Hackford again - although filming sex scenes was awkward. She said: "It was very interesting when we got to the bed scenes with my gorgeous, young, Spanish co-star Sergio Peris-Mencheta. "Taylor had been looking all of these years for material for us to do together but when he did a film like The Devil's Advocate there was not a role for me. "Finally he found this script, which had a wonderful role for me." Mirren and Taylor wed in Scotland on New Year's Eve in 1997 after more than a decade together. She said: "Neither of us were young and I think that was to our advantage. "After we first got together I said to him that I wished I had met him earlier because we had wasted all this time. "But Taylor said if we had met when we were in our 20s we would not be together now. We had too much to do. He was very wise about that."
Dame Helen Mirren reflects on marriage to RPCV Taylor Hackford
Dame Helen Mirren calls for the legalisation of brothels
Sep 7 2008 By John Millar
HELEN MIRREN has called for brothels to be legalised after spending a night with hookers at a notorious bordello.
The Queen star Mirren goes from monarch to madam to play a raunchy brothel boss in her latest film.
And the 62-year-old Dame visited the infamous Mustang Ranch in Nevada to learn more about the vice trade.
The star, who played a call girl in 1980 Brit movie Hussy, said: "I researched the whole notion of a brothel and went to a legal brothel in Nevada.
"I loved the girls and the madam was wonderful - she became our advisor. She was invaluable - a wonderful woman.
"I am a complete believer in legal brothels. The girls are protected and free and it takes out that horrible situation of pimps and drugs.
"Also the men who go there know the girls are medically checked and it is very carefully controlled - everyone is in a safe environment.
"I don't think you are ever going to get rid of prostitution so you might as well make it as safe as possible."
Her comments can be revealed just days after the star caused controversy by suggesting some date rapists should not be prosecuted.
Mirren plays Grace Botempo in Love Ranch alongside Goodfellas star Joe Pesci.
The thriller is based on the real-life story of Joe and Sally Conforte, who opened the Mustang Ranch, Nevada's first legal bordello, in the 1970s.
In 1976 boxer Oscar Bonavena was shot dead, allegedly over his affair with Sally.
One of Mirren's main reasons for taking the gritty role is that the film is directed and produced by her husband, Oscar-winner Taylor Hackford.
Love Ranch is the first time they have worked together since 1984's White Nights, the movie which introduced them.
Mirren loved teaming up with Devil's Advocate and Ray director Hackford again - although filming sex scenes was awkward.
She said: "It was very interesting when we got to the bed scenes with my gorgeous, young, Spanish co-star Sergio Peris-Mencheta.
"Taylor had been looking all of these years for material for us to do together but when he did a film like The Devil's Advocate there was not a role for me.
"Finally he found this script, which had a wonderful role for me."
Mirren and Taylor wed in Scotland on New Year's Eve in 1997 after more than a decade together.
She said: "Neither of us were young and I think that was to our advantage.
"After we first got together I said to him that I wished I had met him earlier because we had wasted all this time.
"But Taylor said if we had met when we were in our 20s we would not be together now. We had too much to do.
He was very wise about that."
Aside from Love Ranch, the couple have another project - renovating their home in Puglia, southern Italy.
It will be the ideal place to take a break from work, something Mirren admits she does not do enough.
She even had to decline dinner with the Queen because she was so busy.
She said: "That seems to have been the story of my life. I'm always working.
"But I want to slow down a bit and to be able to be in one place. I am rather hoping that one place will be in Italy."
Although she missed out on a meal with Her Majesty, Mirren met her at Ascot.
She said: "She was very gracious but it was a private meeting and I will never disclose what happened....except that the tea was delicious." Mirren was born Ilynea Lydia Mironoff to a Russian aristocrat father who was stranded in London after the 1917 revolution.
She made her screen debut in A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1968 and enjoyed a party lifestyle in London.
The actress caused controversy last week when, in an interview, she claimed to have been date-raped twice and suggested some rapists should not be prosecuted if their victims had gone to bed with them before saying no.
Mirren also revealed that she had taken cocaine at parties but told the Sunday Mail that her personal life never affected her work. She said: "I was always a good girl. I turned up on time and never got drunk.
"I've only missed two performances in my life and that was because of a bad throat infection. I was never a wild child. I was not an Amy Winehouse."
With her awards success, juicy new roles and being made a Dame, is this the happiest time of Mirren's life?
She said: "I don't think happiness comes like that. But it was fantastic to win the Oscar.
"For it to happen at this end of my life gave me an incredible feeling of completion and fulfilment."
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