Helen Mirren Opens Up About Becoming A Dual Citizen: 'It Was So Moving'

justjared.com:

Helen Mirren takes pride in having dual citizenship in Great Britain and in America. In a new interview with People, the 76-year-old actress opened up about the moment she knew she legally wanted to become an American citizen. Click inside to read more… “My husband [Taylor Hackford] is American.

My stepchildren are obviously American. My nephew lived in America, worked in America,” Helen says. “So I had certainly been an American resident for a very long time.” She adds, “When I understood, which I hadn’t quite grasped before, that I could be a British citizen and an American citizen — because I would not like to give up my British citizenship — then I thought, ‘Well, that’s great.

That’s the perfect world.’” Helen then opened up about how moving it felt becoming a citizen of the country: “I didn’t realize how profound a feeling it would be.

It brought up feelings of patriotism that I didn’t think I had. I think it was to do with the intrinsic generosity of America.” She also recalls living in New York City during the terrorist attacks of 9/11. “I saw the second tower come down,” she says. “I had an epiphany.