Dame Helen Mirren returns as Queen Elizabeth II as she brings her hit West End political play 'The Audience' over the pond to Broadway; and, without exaggeration, once again proves to be the most convincing queen ever seen on either stage or screen.

Helen Mirren at 'The Audience' opening after party
Helen Mirren at 'The Audience' opening after party (Credit: Jemal Countess at Getty Images Entertainment)

Helen Mirren has that kind of noble demeanour that commands respect on entering a room, never mind a stage or film set. So it's no wonder that she was selected to reprise her role as the current Queen of England in speculative political theatre drama 'The Audience' - a show which explores the monarchs varying relationships with different Prime Ministers, including the only female PM Margaret Thatcher, Harold Wilson, Winston Churchill and current PM David Cameron.

More: Helen Mirren rides the subway

[L-R] Rufus Wright, Judith Ivey, Helen Mirren, Dakin Matthews and Michael Elwyn in 'The Audience'
[L-R] Rufus Wright, Judith Ivey, Helen Mirren, Dakin Matthews and Michael Elwyn in 'The Audience' (Credit: Jemal Countess at Getty Images Entertainment)

'The Audience' reunites Mirren with playwright Peter Morgan, who was responsible for writing the screenplay of 2006 biopic 'The Queen', which saw Mirren's first stint as Elizabeth II and easily scooped her the Oscar for Best Actress. The play has been directed by Stephen Daldry, who has been lucky enough to have met the Queen, and subsequently based his direction on what he saw in her conduct. 'And she's always been the model of decorum and decency - but on reserve', he told NPR.

Helen Mirren in 'The Audience' 1
Helen Mirren appears in 'The Audience' curtain call (Credit: Jemal Countess at Getty Images Entertainment)

Mirren, however, took inspiration from the real life monarch on a deeper level; exploring her life before she was crowned and capturing the real person within. 'I only looked at the film of her before she became queen to see who the person was before that mantle fell upon her', she added.

More: See more pictures from 'The Audience' after show party

[L-R] Judith Ivey, Helen Mirren and Dakin Matthews in 'The Audience'
[L-R] Judith Ivey, Helen Mirren and Dakin Matthews in 'The Audience' (Credit: Jemal Countess at Getty Images Entertainment)

The play first opened on London's West End in 2013, following which, predictably, she won an Olivier Award for Best Actress. With the passion that she showed for the production, she definitely deserver the accolade; no-one can forget that mildly terrifying incident where she was seen storming out of the Gielgud Theatre to give a group of street drummers a good talking to when they began playing loudly outside during the show. She threw away all sense of poise and launched an F-bomb laden attack, which, needless to say, saw the instrumentalists promptly move on. Go Mirren!

Helen Mirren and the cast of 'The Audience'
Helen Mirren and the cast of 'The Audience' (Credit: Jemal Countess at Getty Images Entertainment)

After its remarkable success in the UK, 'The Audience' was brought to Broadway on March 8th 2015 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre and will see a long stretch through June. It's the perfect way to celebrate Her Majesty's victory as the longest reigning monarch ever seen, because on September 9th, she will finally surpass her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria. 

More: Read our review of Helen Mirren's latest film 'The Hundred Foot Journey'

Helen Mirren in 'The Audience' 2
Helen Mirren takes a bow for 'The Audience' (Credit: Jemal Countess at Getty Images Entertainment)