Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren was only cast in a new epic movie because Meryl Streep turned down her part.

The star plays the wife of War And Peace author Leo Tolstoy in new movie The Last Station, but she wasn’t director Michael Hoffman’s first choice for the role.

But Mirren insists she is unfazed by the knowledge she failed to make the top of Hoffman’s wish list – and instead the knock back inspires her to work even harder to prove herself.

She says, “Michael, I know very well that you offered the part to Meryl Streep before me, but it just makes me want to work all the harder. It’s a really great role, and Meryl: I’m afraid you made a big mistake.”

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WENN

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Helen Mirren considers herself to have been born to act – because her Russian ancestors created the country’s first ever theater.

The actress, who has a Russian father and whose real name is Illiana Mironova, made the discovery while researching her new autobiography, In The Frame: My Life In Words And Pictures.

Mirren explains, “I think it has to be genetic. One of my Russian ancestors started the first theater in Russia, a serf theater on his estate in the 18th century. It was one of the very first formal theaters. But my mother was a huge drama queen, so it could have come from her side of the family also.”

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WENN

Katherine Heigl

Helen Mirren

Tilda Swinton

James McAvoy

Jennifer Hudson

Penelope Cruz

Laura Linney

Cameron Diaz

Hilary Swank

Amy Adams

Daniel Day-Lewis

Anne Hathaway

Jessica Alba & Cash Warren

Keri Russell

Jennifer Garner

Heidi Klum & Seal

Miley Cyrus

John Travolta & Kelly Preston

Heidi Klum, Seal, Miley Cyrus, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Jessica Alba & Cash Warren arrive for the Oscars tonight.

WENN

UPDATE: More pictures!