Britain's Helen Mirren dedicated her award to Queen Elizabeth, the monarch she portrayed in the royal drama “The Queen”.

It was the first Oscar for Mirren, 61, who has already swept up more than 20 major awards for her portrayal of the reserved Elizabeth II in the days after the sudden death in 1997 of Princess Diana.

Saluting the “courage and consistency” of Queen Elizabeth, Mirren raised her golden statuette and told the audience: “I thank her because if it wasn't for her I most certainly would not be here. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Queen!”

“For 50 years and more, Elizabeth Windsor has maintained her dignity, her sense of duty and her hairstyle. She's had her feet planted firmly on the ground, her hat on her head, her handbag on her arm and she has weathered many, many storms,”

Mirren said while accepting the Oscar.—Reuters