Hitchcock star berated Skyfall director for failing to mention any women as influences in his acceptance speech
Helen Mirren criticised Skyfall director Sam Mendes last night after he failed to mention any women as influences during an acceptance speech at the Empire awards.
As she picked up her 'Legend' award, the Hitchcock star berated Mendes for citing Paul Thomas Anderson, François Truffaut, Martin Scorsese and Ingmar Bergman as his inspirations in his speech while ignoring Hollywood female film directors.
She said: 'I don't want to unduly pick on Sam Mendes, but when he spoke about his inspirations earlier this evening, I'm afraid not a single one of the people he mentioned was a woman.
'Hopefully in five or 10 years, when Sam's successor is collecting their Inspiration award, the list will be slightly more balanced in terms of its sexual make-up. In the meantime, this one is for the girls.'
Mendes won Best Director, Best Film and the 'Inspiration' award at the ceremony. The award winners are voted for by the film magazine's readers.
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