Mirren: I'm not Brand's pin-up

Dame Helen Mirren has laughed off remarks made by Russell Brand about her sexiness.

The British funnyman, who stars with the Oscar-winner in two films, The Tempest and Arthur, has sang her praises and revealed that he finds the actress "sexy" and "wants to snog" her.

A blushing Helen joked: "That's his business! It's got nothing to do with me," adding: "I think he went off that whole idea when he saw me staggering into work at 5am."

The 65-year-old can find no fault with her co-star, who started off as a stand-up comedian before making an impact in Hollywood with roles in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek.

"He's great. He's really smart, he's really kind, he's very hard working and he's out there as well. I don't know how he juggles being nice, kind, smart and hard-working with being the Russell Brand that we also know and love. He's a truly extraordinary person," she said.

The duo had laughs on and off-screen.

Helen added: "He was as funny off the screen as he was on the screen, he just can't help himself. He reminds me a little bit of Robin Williams like that - his brain is always working."

© Press Association