Veteran British actress DAME Helen Mirren considered refusing her damehood - but her vanity prevailed.

The 58-year-old CALENDAR GIRLS star was made a DAME OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE in June 2003 as part of the Queen's birthday ceremony, but was hesitant to accept the honour.

She says, "(I had to) think quite seriously for a couple of weeks.

"In the end, my baser feelings of got the better of me. I succumbed to pride."

13/04/2004 14:28