Helen Mirren pretty much is a queen as far as most of us are concerned, so it's unsurprising that she pulled off a truly magnificent performance as the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II. There's a touch of restraint where many other actresses would made a spectacle, which perfectly suits the personality of the dignified woman who was always reluctant to put her emotions on display. This film is very much about a moment in time, rather than a sprawling biopic that details a monarch's whole life, like many of the others on this list. But seeing how a person reacts in one specific situation can tell us as much about them as learning their entire life story. The Queen takes place after the sudden death of Princess Diana, when the public was clamoring for her to make a public statement of grief, something that none of the Windsors have ever been particularly inclined to do. Her reluctance to carry out her family's grieving process in the public eye was accompanied by a certain discontent with the monarchy, which was largely remedied by her televised message honoring the life of Princess Diana.