Home / Arts and Entertainment / Mirren Transforms Into 'Ripley' Author Highsmith
Mirren Transforms Into 'Ripley' Author Highsmith
21 Oct
Summary
- Helen Mirren portrays a fictionalized Patricia Highsmith in 'A Talent for Murder'.
- The film is a psychological thriller directed by Anton Corbijn.
- Mirren embraced a dowdy look to disappear into her character.

Helen Mirren, acclaimed for her portrayals of real-life figures like Queen Elizabeth II and Golda Meir, now embodies a fictionalized version of Patricia Highsmith, the author of 'The Talented Mr. Ripley.' The film, titled 'A Talent for Murder,' is a psychological thriller helmed by director Anton Corbijn.
In the movie, Mirren's Highsmith resides in solitude in Switzerland, engaging in psychological games with a young publishing executive seeking a new book. The narrative unfolds over 106 minutes, depicting a suspenseful cat-and-mouse dynamic where Highsmith manipulates the situation.
Mirren, 81, shared that she had to shed her vanity for the role, adopting a dowdy appearance with a brown wig, simple menswear, and minimal makeup. This transformation was crucial for disappearing into the character of the abrasive bestselling writer, a challenge Mirren admitted she embraced despite her own preference for looking good.