Over the years, lots of news has come out about lusting directors wanting more than just a read-through during casting calls. This is nothing new, but it may be surprising to hear about it regarding Helen Mirren. The Guardian reports that in a recent television interview, she spoke harshly of director Michael Winner (Appointment with Death) and a casting session back in 1964 -- a few years before she even had her first feature role in Herostratus.

She says that he treated her "like a piece of meat," and asked her flaunt her body and spin for a casting session. "I was mortified and incredibly angry. I thought it was insulting and sexist, and I don't think any actress should be treated like that -- like a piece of meat -- at all." The director-turned-restaurant critic, meanwhile, has an entirely different story, or at least, he seems to think so. He shared his version of things over at The Mail, and it is, well, interesting.

In his story, she was an actress with "sagging bosoms" who refused to wear a bra. Her then-agent supposedly was at a loss, so she convinced Winner to help try and convince her. But even after this whole story about how he was just trying to be of help, he said: "Now I don't mind that Helen looks back on those days as humiliating, but I'll tell you something else, Helen: even after that period, for years after I still asked girls to stand up away from my desk so I could get a good look at them." Okay, Winner, thanks for sharing.

Really, it's not like Mirren shied away from racy fare. She isn't complaining about sexist troubles when she read to star as Caesonia in Penthouse's Caligula, or as a prostitute in Hussy. If she isn't complaining about a Guccione production, that says something.* We'll never know what happened for sure, but at least its an entirely strange story for the weekend.

*Edited thanks to the catch by Rich. You're absolutely right!

Gallery: Helen Mirren

Earlier this month, there was a Reuters story about director Michael Winner and his claim that his 1974 film Death Wish is the most copied in the history of cinema. I haven't gotten to the point where I agree with that statement completely, but today I'm seeing one more piece of evidence, at least. Fox Searchlight has just made a deal to distribute a movie called Stephon's Coroner for State Street (I don't understand the title, either), which is kinda like Death Wish, but with and for moms. The script, written by Pat Gilfillan follows two single women who become friends after they each lose a son to useless acts of violence. When the judicial system fails them, they become vigilantes. George Tillman will direct.

There is no vengeance like that of a mother. So who should play these renegade moms? The best choice for one of them would be Julianne Moore, but I guess I'm typecasting since she seems to be playing a lot of mom's with missing children these days. For the other, perhaps Sissy Spacek? Or would that be too much red hair? Maybe it could serve as some cheesy metaphor?