I was born to act': Dame Helen Mirren

Washington, Apr 14 : Dame Helen Mirren believes that she has been born to act, after discovering that her Russian ancestors were the ones who created the country's first ever theatre.

The 62-year-old actress' real name is Ilyena Vasilievna Mironov, and her father was Vasiliy Petrovich Mironov, a Russian.

The actress made the discovery regarding her ancestors while researching her new autobiography, In The Frame: My Life In Words And Pictures.

"I think it has to be genetic. One of my Russian ancestors started the first theatre in Russia, a serf theatre on his estate in the 18th century. It was one of the very first formal theatres," Contactmusic quoted Mirren, as saying.

"But my mother was a huge drama queen, so it could have come from her side of the family also," she added.

ANI