The award-winning actress Helen Mirrenwho plays former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in the film “Golda“, she shares common elements with her performance in the TV series “Elizabeth I» (2005) where she played the Queen Elizabeth I of England.

“In a strange way, it was a bit like playing Elizabeth I of England, because of her absolute devotion to her countrysaid the English actress, who won an Oscar and a BAFTA for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in The Queen (2006).

The film “Golda”, which premiered today at the Berlin Film Festival, focuses on the period when Golda Meir led Israel in the Yom Kippur War, when her country was attacked by a coalition of Arab countries – led by Egypt and Syria – in October 1973.

“It’s not a biopic, it’s not about her whole life, but a small part of it, the one with the most challengesMirren said.

On October 6 of that year, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel, during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. After overcoming the initial surprise, the Israeli army regrouped and launched a massive counterattack, pushing back the invaders, before signing a cease-fire agreement.

Helen Mirren is almost unrecognizable as Golda Meir. The Israeli prime minister, who smoked heavily and was secretly undergoing treatment for lymphoma, appears in the film devastated by the loss of life in her country, an aspect that director Guy Nativ wanted to highlight.

“As an Israeli, I have known since childhood that Golda (Meir) had a complex character“, Nativ said, adding that he hopes his film will help his compatriots get to know the human side of Israel’s “iron lady”.

Nativ justified his decision to cast Helen Mirren in the lead role, even though she is not Jewish, saying that in addition to being a great actress, she is “very authentic.”