Hilary Spurling

How The Spectator discovered Helen Mirren

From Enoch Powell to Danny La Rue: Hilary Spurling remembers how she was given free rein when she took over the arts and books pages in the 1960s

A 19-year-old Helen Mirren as Cleopatra in 1965 at the Old Vic. The only professional review Mirren got was in the pages of The Spectator – and it forecast her as a future star. Photo: Barham / Mirrorpix / Getty Images

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