Hers was one of the great absences in the Golden Globe nominations. And through makeup, Helen Mirren has become a replica of Golda Meir for Guy Nattiv's film that premieres this Friday and that portrays how the The then 75-year-old prime minister stood in front of a room full of men to lead Israel during the Yom Kippur War in 1973. As she tells it in this interview, for the Oscar winner for The Queen (and nominated in 3 other occasions), the work of filming with so much makeup was a new experience, adding to an amazing career that has spanned 7 decades.
Is it true that when you were offered the role you had your doubts?
Yes. He is a very important figure in Israeli history, who was also key from a feminist perspective. I must have been in my twenties when Golda Meir was elected prime minister. It was the first time I heard of a woman leading a country. That moment was incredible for all women in the world. A wall had been knocked down. Regardless of the politics or the country, it was an important moment for me. Certainly, the opportunity to play such an iconic, powerful, complex and interesting figure seemed amazing to me, one that I would have accepted immediately, but I was concerned that I was not Jewish. I imagined that Guy Nattiv, the director, knew that I had played several Jewish characters, in The Debt and in The Lady in Gold. I thought maybe that's why he thought I was Jewish. Therefore, in our first meeting I told him that I wasn't, and that if that was a problem, he should forget about me. But he told me that he didn't think it was important and that he wanted me to play Golda. If he hadn't told me that, he wouldn't have dared me.
What was it like to create the atmosphere of that war cabinet?
Guy hired a mostly Israeli cast to accompany me in the war room scenes. Actors are part of a tribe, and we all belong to it. As soon as I entered the set, I recognized my tribe. And in that sense I had an instant connection with all of them. But on the other hand, they brought Israeli energy, passion, wit and humor. I don't think the film would have worked the same if Guy hired English or American actors. The funny thing is that none of these actors ever saw me as Helen Mirren. I came to film the scenes made up like Golda. She was on set very early to get me ready, so she was always the first one on set. And obviously when everyone left, I stayed there to have my makeup removed.
How did makeup help you in your performance?
Logically, I was always transformed for the role and that was very comfortable for me. It's a very useful tool when you're playing someone who's nothing like you. Any other actress who had played her would have gone through the same transformation, because she had an unmistakable physical appearance. I confess that this role scared me a little, because I had never done anything like it. I've always used very light makeup to create a character, and then I do my inner work. But this physical transformation seemed amazing to me. It may sound stupid, but the external change helped my internal transformation. Every time at night they took off my makeup I was a little surprised that I was no longer that person. Makeup allowed me to go inside her and become her, without having to disconnect all day. I usually hate sitting in the makeup chair. I can't tolerate more than 20 minutes. But in this case it was almost two hours and could not be reduced. And I enjoyed it. It made everything on the set easier.
What surprised you most about Golda Meir?
That he loved everything that had to do with cooking. She was always interested in the revolutionary devices that were appearing and in that sense we have something in common. I am fascinated by anything that can be used for chopping, roasting, or frying, the better if it is with air.
What was it like doing your scenes with Liev Schreiber as Henry Kissinger?
Well, I once sat next to Henry Kissinger at an opera. And I must say that he was an extremely charismatic and very charming man. It was very easy for me to imagine him getting along very well with Golda, because they both knew how to make others like them. Neither of them was physically attractive, but they had enormous charm, a lot of intelligence and great intellectual power. So I had my little moment with Henry Kissinger, but unfortunately at the time I didn't imagine that one day I was going to play Golda Meir. Otherwise, I would have asked him about those encounters.
What has been the most difficult part of preparing for this role?
Everything, to tell the truth. Obviously her voice. She had a very distinctive voice and a very clear American accent. Looking back, I wonder how I managed to play this role. But I found it little by little. And in those two hours in the makeup chair I dedicated myself to listening to her voice in my headphones, and watching film. Learning to walk like her was very important. All the time I asked Guy if she already walked like her and he told me no, I still needed a little bit...
To what extent has making this film helped you understand what is happening in the Middle East?
I understood that the historical journey of Israel and Palestine is very long and will continue for hundreds of years. What has happened there in recent months has been horrible. It is a continuation of what has shaken that part of the world since the creation of the state of Israel. And it's not that there weren't problems there before independence. Just think about the crusades. For many years that region has gone through different stages of difficulties and turmoil. But I think what's valuable about our film is that it shows you a part of Israeli history that is extremely important. It shares with the viewer the feeling of living in a country that is constantly being attacked, and that there are other countries that want it to disappear. That's something that's always been there. Living with that memory and that constant understanding has made Israel the country it is today.
