Mirren Nearly Quit Acting For Marriage

Oscar-winner DAME HELEN MIRREN nearly turned her back on acting because she wanted to dedicate her life to her husband TAYLOR HACKFORD.

The Queen star married director Hackford in 1997 after an 11-year romance - and confesses she almost quit her craft when she was continually overlooked for movie roles.

She says, "Eventually I felt that I had to put my relationship before work. There was a time when I felt like giving up on my career because all the decent roles were being given to Hollywood actresses with bigger profiles than me."

But the 62-year-old's husband convinced her she could be successful as a wife and an actress.

Mirren adds, "He just took me aside and said: 'Don't worry. We're only this far along in our life together and still have all that time to go. Some will be hard and some will be easy but we'll make it."