Dame Helen Mirren has said that British actors are less hard-working and take longer to learn lines than their American counterparts. Speaking recently at the Brit Week Film & TV Summit in LA, the Oscar-winning actress, referencing a 1994 stage production of A Month In The Country, said the Broadway ensemble “had their lines down” by the second week of rehearsals, whereas in London “rehearsals had to finish at two in the afternoon so everyone could learn lines”.
The production, which also starred John Hurt and Joseph Fiennes, garnered Mirren a Tony nomination when it transferred to Broadway. “They did a full day’s rehearsal, which we didn’t do in England” she added. “There were no complaints, they just took that as being what you do. I’ve always loved American actors for their work ethic, their absolute commitment.”