Helen Mirren Denies Royal Snub.... Dame Helen Mirren has hit out at reports she shunned invitations from Buckingham Palace following her hugely successful role in The Queen.The actress won an Academy Award for her portrayal of British monarch Queen Elizabeth Ii in the movie, but denies she subsequently refused to pay respects to her real-life inspiration when invited to meet the royal in person.Speaking at last night's (21May07) Greatest Briton Awards in London she says, "No it is not true that I snubbed the Queen. She is an amazing hard-working woman as I am."If you are working there's absolutely nothing you can do, especially in the job I was doing in South Dakota. It's not as if I was in Manchester."Mirren was crowned Greatest Briton in Film at the ceremony, and used the red carpet opportunity to pay tribute to another winner, David Beckham, who picked up a special global achievement award.Mirren gushed about the soccer star, "I am absolutely speechless. What can I say? He is the best of Britain in every way. He is a great icon for this country."Queen Elizabeth II was voted the Greatest Living Briton, beating off competition from Sir Paul McCartney, Dame Julie Andrews, former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher and pop star Robbie Williams.She was not present to receive the accolade but her son Prince Edward paid tribute to his mother via a video transmission.

Other guests attending the awards, held at the London Television Centre, included Ugly Betty star Ashley Jensen, Sir Bob Geldof, and singer Natasha Bedingfield.

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