London, 23 March 2026 – The Ambassador of Italy to the United Kingdom, Inigo Lambertini, conferred upon British actress Helen Mirren the insignia of Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy (OSI) during a ceremony held at the Ambassador’s Residence in Grosvenor Square, London. The Order of the Star of Italy is a prestigious honour awarded to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to strengthening relations of friendship and cooperation between Italy and the international community.
In his address, Ambassador Lambertini highlighted Dame Helen Mirren’s deep and longstanding personal connection with Italy, a country she holds in high regard and frequently visits.
“Helen Mirren maintains a strong and enduring connection with Italy, contributing over time to the promotion of a meaningful cultural affinity between Italy and the United Kingdom,” Ambassador Lambertini said. “Through this enduring bond, she has helped foster a meaningful cultural affinity between Italy and the United Kingdom, demonstrating a sincere appreciation for Italian culture and contributing to the dialogue between two rich artistic traditions.”
The ceremony was followed by a reception attended by representatives of the British cultural and entertainment sectors, as well as friends and family of the actress.
Dame Helen Mirren is an internationally acclaimed film and stage actress and recipient of numerous major awards, including an Academy Award, five Golden Globe Awards, four BAFTA Awards, five Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Critics’ Choice Award, four Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. In 2003, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Dame Helen is deeply connected to Italy, and in particular to the Salento region, where she owns a masseria (a traditional farmhouse estate). In addition, the actress speaks Italian and also tries her hand at the local dialect.
At the following link you can find the photos of the event: https://floraluna.net/photography/events
For the use of the images, please include the following credit: Photographs by Flora Luna.
For further information, please contact: stampa.amblondra@esteri.it
