By WENN world entertainment news - 2 hours 11 minutes ago

Actress Helen Mirren was livid after learning an American version of crime drama Prime Suspect was planned - because she was last in line to play the lead role.

The Oscar winner, 62, played DCI Jane Tennison in the series which aired on ITV for 15 years, but was devastated when she found out she failed to be considered for the same part in a U.S. remake.

She says, "There was once going to be an American version of Prime Suspect and my name was at the bottom of the list to play Jane Tennison.

"I was so furious, I am Jane Tennison!"

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/wenn/20080125/ten-mirren-angered-by-u-s-prime-suspect-c60bd6d_1.html

as this is an american version we are talking here, why not? helen, stop being so greedy

I figured Mirren wouldn't have been considered for a US version of the show because she's an established film actress who just won an Oscar, and wouldn't want to be bothered doing a US television series when she could be doing film

I figured Mirren wouldn't have been considered for a US version of the show because she's an established film actress who just won an Oscar, and wouldn't want to be bothered doing a US television series when she could be doing film

yeah, i thought about that too. she's made that transition from a tv star back in the uk into an international movie star, and so why would she want go back, when she doesn't need to?

The producers of the show probably couldn't afford to pay an actress of Helen's caliber what she deserves to do a television show today. Then again, Dame Judy Dench did a television show (As Time Goes By) while continuing to work in film and earning multiple Academy Award nominations.

The producers of the show probably couldn't afford to pay an actress of Helen's caliber what she deserves to do a television show today. Then again, Dame Judy Dench did a television show (As Time Goes By) while continuing to work in film and earning multiple Academy Award nominations.

that tv show you mentioned as time goes by was filmed in the uk-the production costs for a uk sitcom are much lower than in the States and whilst dame judy dench has received acclaim on both sides of the atlantic, people here in the UK where i am from and in the US and canada to name associate her with playing british/english based characters