Helen Mirren MasterClass Review 2022: Is It Worth It?

This article (Helen Mirren Masterclass Review) will provide you with the opportunity to read an in-depth evaluation of Helen Mirren’s Masterclass, including information on how the lessons are presented, who the course is best suited for, the cost, and what I enjoyed about it, etc.

Dame Helen Mirren is one of the most famous and well-recognized actors working in the film industry today. In this MasterClass seminar, students will get the opportunity to learn from the Academy Award-winning actress herself.

The Helen Mirren MasterClass will teach you how to dissect a script, zero down on a character, and hone in on your acting techniques. There are a total of 28 sessions available, making this an excellent opportunity to pick the brain of one of the most well-liked actresses in Britain.

If you’re reading this Helen Mirren Masterclass Review, it’s safe to assume that you’re interested in learning more about the content of this class and determining whether or not it would be beneficial for you to enroll.

In this Helen Mirren Masterclass Review of the Helen Mirren MasterClass, I’ll discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the course so that you can make an informed choice.

Who Is Helen Mirren?

Helen Mirren is a well-known English actress who rose to prominence thanks to her work in the theatre, particularly in the Shakespearean and West End productions.

Helen Mirren began her acting career with the part of Jane Tennison in the television police drama Prime Suspect. Mirren received her acting training at the Royal Shakespeare Company in London.

In addition, she is well-known for her performances as historical characters Elizabeth I and Elizabeth II, roles for which she was awarded a Golden Globe.

This MasterClass could be the one for you if you want to expand your acting abilities and enhance your techniques. You can also check out Helen’s Twitter Fan Page here.

About MasterClass

MasterClass is an instructional platform that was established online in the year 2015. Since the company’s inception, MasterClass has prioritized providing a superior educational experience for its students by maintaining exceptionally high production values and teaching standards.

In point of fact, celebrity instructors like Martin Scorsese, Margaret Atwood, James Cameron, and Gordon Ramsay are the only ones who are allowed to teach classes at MasterClass. Ramsay teaches food, Cameron teaches filmmaking, Atwood teaches creative writing, and Scorsese teaches filmmaking.

At the cost of $90 for a single course payment, you can enroll in any MasterClass that interests you. This grants you unrestricted access to a MasterClass of your choosing, as well as the discussion forum and any and all other materials associated with that MasterClass.

In addition to that, there is the all-access pass. This is an annual subscription that costs a total of $180. With the all-access pass, you are able to attend as many of the offered classes as you wish over the duration of your subscription.

This is a wonderful opportunity for students who are interested in a specific subject, as it enables them to participate in many MasterClasses that are all centered on the same subject.

Having said that, I do not believe that MasterClass is appropriate for everyone. My goal is to provide you with some information on the benefits and drawbacks of MasterClass so that you can determine whether or not it is right for you.

Course Overview – Helen Mirren Masterclass Review

There are a total of 28 lessons included in the Helen Mirren MasterClass, which has a running time of 6 hours and 25 minutes. About ten to fifteen minutes are allotted for each and every instruction.

You receive access to the video lessons, as well as the Community Hub, which allows you to connect with other students in the course, as well as the Workbook, which is 54 pages long.

This is what you can expect to learn from Helen Mirren’s MasterClass.

Meet Your Instructor & Breaking Down a Script

Helen will walk you through the steps that she takes to dissect a script right at the beginning of her MasterClass. She goes on to explain that there is a methodical approach that she follows in order to gain a sense of both the script and her character.

Reading, taking notes, and interrogating your character about important matters are the primary activities involved in this process.

In addition to this, Helen instructs you on how to make use of your instincts when reading a screenplay and hints that the reactions you have while doing so are significant to the quality of your performance.

She also provides additional information on the most effective methods for learning dialogue, such as how to approach the script during the first read-through and how to analyze a script for your part.

The hands-on demonstration that Helen gave of exactly how she organizes her script in order to remember her lines was by far the most interesting part for me.

Although the purpose of this chapter is more to serve as a springboard for future conversation, I found that it laid a solid groundwork for the remainder of the training.

Helen is someone who is very physically present and is quick to visually demonstrate her views from the beginning. In the conclusion, you will have gained a deeper comprehension of how to approach a screenplay in a manner that does not leave you feeling overwhelmed.

Shakespeare

For performers like Helen, Shakespeare is a gold mine for honing their skills in conversation. She reads from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, “The quality of mercy” monologue, to demonstrate the power of Shakespearean training.

Helen teaches you how to use Shakespeare to convey meaning, with a specific emphasis on:

• Find different meanings and inflections within a speech
• Unpick and better understand a speaker’s meaning
• Use breaths and intonations to help your speech flow
• Read Shakespeare attentively and with an open mind

As a whole, this component of the course was one of the most in-depth and case-specific. Actress Helen examines the pros and cons of putting on a Shakespeare play using Portia’s speech as a jumping-off point.

Helen also considers the distinctions between the film and theatrical performances of Shakespeare. The pros and cons of each format, as well as the best practices, are discussed here.

Finally, Helen offers some words of wisdom on how to cultivate a personal connection with Shakespeare’s language. With this method of preserving the text, she believes it is possible to keep the words alive on a nightly basis if you’re performing on stage.

Finding Your Character & Research: Real & Fictional Characters

A function for an actress is to reflect on the world around them, according to Helen. Because of this, an actor’s job is to go out into the real world and observe. This is how she comes up with the characters she creates in her stories.

When it comes to the art of acting, Helen sees it as a form of storytelling. Indeed, she believes actual people have far more intriguing stories to tell than anything you could concoct.

Both real and fictitious characters can be researched using Helen’s tips. Here, you’ll learn how to fill in minor parts, enrich a character’s backstory, and build a strong foundation for your position.

Helen’s differentiation between the two forms of research and how they might benefit your character was the most important thing I learned from this class. She goes on to talk about the research she did for her roles in Eye in the Sky and Some Mother’s Son, among other things.

Creating Characters: Costume & Hair & Makeup

In this section, Helen focuses on her appearance, including her attire, hair, and makeup. Her discussion of the wardrobe and visual adjustments for your character is extensive in this section.

As she sees it, this can have a profound effect on how a character behaves in their environment. While Helen demonstrates how a character’s appearance may be altered by numerous costumes, she also pays attention to how costume serves as a visual symbol.

You’ll learn how to do the following things thanks to her:

• Choose the right costume for your character
• Understand how dress relates to culture
• Use makeup for screen vs. stage
• Develop a good rapport with your costume team

Helen also provides examples of other clothing and wig possibilities. When it comes to choosing costumes, Helen not only shows you examples from various time periods and character kinds. For example, she cites reasons for rejecting some items.

Seeing costume design as a collective effort was intriguing. To my amazement, Helen seemed to have a significant say in what she wore. While this is most certainly a sign of her position, it encourages you to think creatively about character design.

Helen also provides examples of other clothing and wig possibilities. When it comes to choosing costumes, Helen not only shows you examples from various time periods and character kinds. For example, she cites reasons for rejecting some items.

Seeing costume design as a collective effort was intriguing. To my amazement, Helen seemed to have a significant say in what she wore. While this is most certainly a sign of her position, it encourages you to think creatively about character design.

Human Behavior

Character mannerisms are the focus of this chapter, as opposed to how they can be influenced by costume and cosmetics in the previous chapter. A tale may be told with this, just as it can with costumes.

As far as representing human behavior goes, Helen is particularly concerned with how to add a surprise factor. As an example of how she prepared for and executed emotionally charged and difficult sequences, she delves into a number of real-world examples.

A character’s death scene is also included in this category, as is a character’s bodily agony in combat scenes, sexual scenes, and intoxicated scenes. On stage and on film, she shares some of the lessons she’s learned along the way.

Film Acting Technique

How to:

• Act differently on stage vs. screen
• Strike a balance between freedom and technique
• Manifest emotions in front of the camera
• Understand the context of your shots
• Plan the right amount for your performance
• Preserve your energy for key moments
• Work with other actors’ processes

Helen begins this course by introducing you to Francis Bacon’s ideas on the importance of technical skill and knowledge. The bibliography in your Workbook contains a list of the sources that Helen cites.

Some of her examples of good technique in performers include Al Pacino and Naomie Harris, to name just a few. To her, acting is all about finding a balance between technique and freedom. Using her own hypothesis of “arrows,” she offers suggestions on how to locate this medium.

As an interesting side note, Helen thinks about how she can best collaborate with the other performers on set. She stresses the importance of learning to cooperate with other performers’ processes and rhythms on set.

Overall, Helen’s explanation of a day’s filming, from arrival to wrap-up, was the most memorable part of this course for me. She shows you how to best prepare for your scenes, and even offers advice on how to take a break from your role in between shots.

Case Studies: Prime Suspect, Elizabeth I, & The Queen

As far as Helen is concerned, excellent acting involves a lot of tinkering around with the finer details. As a result of close-ups on screen, this is especially true. In this part, Helen shows how she employs her approach in some of her most famous performances.

There, Helen tells us how she became more aware of her voice volume and naturalism through the course of Prime Suspect. She investigates the benefits of having a “2-tracked brain,” which she refers to as a tool for improving one’s performance.

A noteworthy case study for me was Elizabeth I’s appeal to her troops. Henrietta explains how she adapted a modern approach for the period language and how she decided to perform for the camera in this sequence.

Using staging, emotion, and technical ingenuity, Helen reinvents a classic historical moment for the screen. Moreover, she reveals how she inspired the extras to be on her level, which eventually improved the action.

Bonus: Naturalism

Naturalism and what it means for performing in the modern day are the focus of Helen’s extra chapter in this book. She cites the work of performers Marlon Brando and Anna Magnani, who she says are excellent at expressing naturalism, as instances of this.

This part, despite its briefness, explores the evolution of acting and the advantages and difficulties that actors now face. In fact, she recommends a few films that demonstrate how the concept of naturalism has developed on the big screen.

Preparation & Rehearsal, & Acting on a Film Set

Helen delves more into the process of preparing for a part in these sections. Learn how to memorize lines, grasp the time period, and develop a greater understanding of your character’s past.

To help you prepare for accents, Helen tells you how to do so, an area she confesses she is lacking in. She offers tips on how to find a good dialect coach, as well as how to do your own self-study.

Many of the master classes I’ve taken on writing have focused on how to get beyond writer’s block. In fact, she offers a few simple and effective ways to get out of a rut. She also recommends trying out several approaches to a job to see what works.

Overall, the best part of this piece was the set’s introduction. During your first day on set, Helen walks you through a sample scene to give you a taste of what you may expect. The crew members are introduced and their responsibilities are described in detail by her.

It’s no secret that Helen has some great set habits, and she’s happy to share those with you as well. Understanding the various shot kinds and being aware of what’s going on are only some of the things you need to do.

Helen’s demonstration of how she plays to the camera while filming is crucial. She believes this is an important skill to master if you want to pursue a career in acting. You’ll learn about the various cameras used on set and how to prepare for multiple takes.

Even though she didn’t act out a sample scene, this was an interesting look into what goes on behind the scenes. She also brings in some theory, as she has in prior chapters. “The good accident,” as described by Francis Bacon, can be seen here.

Characterizing the Set & Props

Helen teaches us how to customize a character’s home using furniture, accents, and other visual cues, much as she did in her course on costume design. Instead of constructing a photogenic set that lacks realism, she concentrates on how to make a space look lived in.

Helen shows you how to do the following, with a focus on making your character’s space unique:

• To tell a story, use furniture and props.
• On the set, create an air of credibility.
• Distract yourself using props to avoid noticing the obvious
• Set design can help to convey a character’s unique characteristics.
• Recognize the importance of continuity while using props.
• It astonished me how much Helen had to say at this point. While working on the set, she actively participates in the creation of various stories about the characters who would call it home.

With this set, Helen illustrates how she would use it to design Jane Tennison’s flat in Prime Suspect. Props can be used to tell a tale, portray a character’s attributes, or evoke an emotional response in the audience.

Working with Writers & Directors, & Choosing Roles

Helen explains the collaborative nature of the filmmaking process in these two sessions. Actors are tasked with interpreting the work of the writers and establishing emotional links in order to properly convey a tale, according to her.

In this section, you’ll learn how to collaborate effectively with other actors, directors, and writers. As part of Helen’s focus on developing strong interpersonal connections, you’ll learn how to:

• Navigate the egotistical issues
• Solve a problem by going via the proper channels.
• Writers and directors can discuss screenplays together.
• Make a proposal about the past.
• You may learn a lot from your bosses.
• From performers and directors like Robert Altman and Bob Hoskins, Helen has gleaned some valuable skills. Actors, in her words, are “all in the same boat” and continually learn from their experiences.

When auditioning for a role, Helen advises aspiring actors on how to show respect and intent.

In addition, Helen offers advice on how to establish a diverse acting career, even if you’re playing a conventional character. As a result, Helen provides a wealth of useful tips on how to prepare for taking on a new career.

Finally, this advice focuses on acting in a professional manner. Here, you’ll learn how to prepare yourself for possible changes and how to maintain your self-confidence while navigating roles that don’t fit you.

Helen’s final statement in this portion was quite moving to me. Discussing women’s evolving roles, she stresses the necessity of diversity and inclusiveness. Films like Alien are demonstrating the widening reach of cinema by defying gender roles and casting conventions. She is of the opinion that we should embrace this. “Roles should be open to everyone,” she asserts.

Evolving as a Theater Actress, Helen’s Journey, & Conclusion

The end of Helen’s journey through the theatre and exposure to drama from a young age comes to her mind. She concludes with some final thoughts on preparing for a career launch. This includes how to train your voice, discover freedom in a role, and own your physical. ‘

For her, being an actor means embracing your individuality and using it to your advantage. As a result, you must shift your thinking away from comparison, ego, and self-doubt in order to achieve success. This is something she can help you with and even offers some additional pearls of wisdom she’s gleaned from her time as an actress.

Finally, Helen has some advice for you on how to prosper in this industry. It is important to pay attention to your instincts and to know that “in a role, you’re always revealing yourself.”

Tapping into the power of your costume to play your character

Who knew that the clothes we wear could tell us so much? I’d always thought of them as props up until this moment. It’s important that your outfit reflects who you are as a person. As an actor or performer, you may be able to enhance your character’s portrayal by enhancing what you are wearing.

Her attention to detail once again shines through in this project. Make sure your demeanor matches the costume you’re wearing, for example Unlike Elizabethan age women, modern women don’t hold themselves in the same way. They had to stand up straight and hold their head up because of the attire they wore. If you want to look like you’re wearing them, you’ll need to mimic their posture and movement.

Oddly, Helen’s demonstration of how she chose between two cardigans was the most disclosing part of the costume video. She certainly has a keen eye for how different hues and textures appear on the screen. Both of those things, it turns out, have a role in her decision-making.

Helen focuses on the importance of accessories in character development, which is critical. This video shows her having a good time. Be on the lookout for her surprising Oscar nomination pick, which has something to do with eyeglasses. It’s funny, yet she has a serious point she’s trying to get through.

Course Pricing – Helen Mirren Masterclass Review

MasterClass now offers two alternatives for purchasing:

1. Single Course Payment

Unlimited access to a MasterClass is included in the $90 fee for a single course payment. The course is yours to keep for as long as you wish when you purchase it.

2. All-Access Pass
The second choice is the $180 all-access pass. It’s a year-long subscription that gives you unrestricted access to MasterClasses. As a result, you can tailor your learning experience to suit your needs by taking courses from different providers.

For MasterClass, there is also a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Helen Mirren Masterclass Review: Is It Worth It?

In my opinion, the Helen Mirren MasterClass was the most in-depth and fascinating of all the acting classes that were available. Throughout the course of the novel, Helen manages to cover a lot of ground in a captivating and varied manner.

Because of her authoritative delivery style, I was unable to look away from the material she was teaching me for the duration of the lesson. Her acting honors prove her ability to deliver, and her MasterClass is one of the most beneficial I’ve taken in this field.

This masterclass, on the other hand, is not without its flaws. In other words, it lacks the kind of feedback and hands-on learning that you’d get from something like a workshop or lecture. It’s important to keep this in mind as you weigh your options for taking the course and determine which learning style is ideal for you.

For performers, I recommend this class above the all-access pass because it’s the best option for those who only want a single course. You truly get your money’s worth out of this course, which is one of the longest and most diverse acting programs available.

Find out how:

• Take small, reasonable steps toward completing a script
• Determine who your movie’s characters are by doing an extensive study.
• hone your acting skills for the silver screen
• Use “naturalism” in your acting.
• Rehearse a scene in advance
• Costumes and props can be used to their fullest potential.
• Writers and directors will appreciate your cooperation.

Pros:

• Learn from a critically-acclaimed actress
• Extensive and in-depth lesson content
• Highly informative Workbook

Cons:

• Veers towards the abstract at times
• No group acting workshops
• Fewer case studies than other classes

Frequently Asked Questions