Dame Helen Mirren has been subjected to a torrent of abuse for appearing as Israel’s only female leader in a forthcoming biopic.
Internet trolls branded the Oscar-winning actress ‘racist’ and described her as a ‘well known Zionist and Israel-worshipper’ after taking on the role of wartime prime minister Golda Meir.
Golda is set in 1973, when Israel was attacked by the Arab States.
Dame Helen described Meir as ‘a formidable, intransigent and powerful leader’ and said it was ‘a great challenge to portray her at the most difficult moment of her extraordinary life’.
But critics on social media described the production as ‘fascism’, ‘sick’ and ‘tasteless’.
Dame Helen Mirren has been subjected to a torrent of abuse for appearing as Israel’s only female leader in forthcoming biopic ‘Golda’ about Israel’s wartime prime minister Golda Meir. Pictured: Mirren, in make-up and costume depicting Meir for the forthcoming film
Internet trolls branded Oscar-winning actress Dame Hellen Mirren (pictured at the 4th Cannes Film Festival, France on July 6, 2021) ‘racist’ and described her as a ‘well known Zionist and Israel-worshipper’ after taking on the role of wartime prime minister Golda Meir
One Twitter user, who said they were ‘Palestinian and proud’, wrote: ‘How sick making a biopic on criminal Golda Meir and yes no surprise Helen Mirren the racist is happy to portray the pure distorted version of a disgusting individual.’
Another wrote: ‘Helen Mirren doing a film about the first female prime minister of Israel is a slap in the face to all the people of Palestine, they are literally celebrating taking over Palestine and taking families out of their homes, murdering children, families! Tasteless film!’
One social-media user said it was ‘hugely disappointing that Helen Mirren is volunteering for this role’, while another wrote: ‘More fascism to show how “wonderful” Israel is.’
Born in Ukraine in 1898 before moving to the US as a child, Meir made history in 1969 as Israel’s first female prime minister.
She soon provoked international controversy, saying: ‘There were no such thing as Palestinians.’
Israel was critical of Meir’s inability to prepare adequately for war threat despite hearing that Syrian forces were preparing for attack.
Pictured: Israel’s first female Prime Minister, Golda Meir, seen on the Day She Resigned. Dame Helen described Meir as ‘a formidable, intransigent and powerful leader’ and said it was ‘a great challenge to portray her at the most difficult moment of her extraordinary life’
Meir, who was criticized for handling the war poorly, resigned in 1974. In 1978, she was 80 years old.
Dame Helen has faced criticism in the past for saying that she was a ‘believer’ in Israel and that she rejected calls to boycott the country.
Call My Agent is also featured in this film. actress Camille Cottin as Meir’s personal assistant and Israeli Lior Ashkenazi as her chief of staff.