Helen MirrenHelen Mirren isn’t worried her life will mirror her Prime Suspect character’s loneliness because even though she doesn’t have any children of her own, she’s got plenty of people around her.

Helen said recently: “There have been times when I wish that I had symbolised my love for someone by having a child with them.”

“On the final Prime Suspect, my character is not only facing up to retirement and advancing years, she’s also coming to terms with the possibility of loneliness.”

“That’s not a problem for me, despite not having children. Simon, my sister Kate’s son, is my ‘borrowed’ son. He is a scriptwriter who lives in Los Angeles so I see a lot of him when I’m out there.”

“And there are my husband [Taylor Hackford]’s two grown-up sons. There’s no chance of me becoming a lonely old woman.”