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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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UPDATE: More pictures!