Damian Lewis and Dame Helen Mirren ‘are recording an album for the Queen’s 95th birthday’

Damian Lewis and Dame Helen Mirren are joining forces to record an album for Her Majesty’s 95th birthday next month – according to new reports.

The actor, 50, and actress, 75, who have both portrayed royalty on screen, are said to share ‘a mutual love and respect for the Queen’ and wanted to mark the ‘significant birthday’.

Following a difficult few weeks for the monarchy, with Prince Philip in hospital and Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview with Oprah, they are ‘hoping it will bring a smile to her face’. 

According to The Sun, an industry insider said: ‘Helen and Damian are quite good pals and have a mutual love and respect for the Queen.

‘They felt it was a very significant birthday and achievement for her to reach 95, so they wanted to do it in a special way. 

‘It’s come at a good time and they are hoping it will bring a smile to her face.’

They said to be making the record with the help of with composer Debbie Wiseman, Classic FM’s Composer in Residence, with narration by Dame Helen and Damian.

The record is set to be titled ‘The Music Of Kings and Queens’ and will be released on June 11, though the British record label, Decca Records.

Mailonline has contacted representatives for Helen and Damian for comment. 

The Queen, who turns 95 on April 21, usually spends her birthday privately, but the special occasion is marked publicly by gun salutes in London. 

Though the pair are better known for their acting abilities, and not for their musical prowess, Damian showcased his musical side to perform at his friends’ wedding last September.

The Band of Brothers star was pictured strumming a guitar alongside his actress wife Helen McCrory, 52, as they sang along to a series of classic Irish tracks outside the Kensington and Chelsea Register Office in London.

Meanwhile Helen Mirren has previously claimed to have ‘no musical talent’ but she still loves classical music.

In an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer, she revealed she she studied piano, albeit briefly, saying: ‘It was a disaster. It must have been heartbreaking for my poor father to realize that his only daughter had no musical talent.’

However, both have experience playing royalty on-screen with Damian starring as King Henry VIII in the BBC drama Wolf Hall in 2015.

Dame Helen won the Oscar for Best Actress in 2007 for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in the film The Queen. 

She is the only actor to have portrayed both Queens Elizabeth on the screen, having also played Elizabeth I in the 2005 television series of the same name.  

This comes as Helen recently revealed her marriage has been made ‘normal’ amid the pandemic and it’s been ‘great’ to spend lots of time ‘bonding’ with her husband Taylor Hackford. 

The Oscar-winning actress explained how she and her director partner, 76, usually jet around the world for work but have stayed home for much of the last year.

Reflecting on how their relationship has changed because of travel restrictions in a new interview with The Telegraph’s Stella Magazine, the star said they’ve enjoyed getting to experience have ‘what most people have’.  

Helen explained that despite being married for ’30-something years’, they’ve not really had the chance to spend such a long period of time together.

She said: ‘In all that time [their marriage] because of the nature of both of our work we’ve always been looking at suitcases, at packing. 

‘We have literally never spent this amount of time together. [The year] could have been disastrous but has actually been fantastic. 

‘It’s been really great to just sort of have what most people have. You know, normal, regular, repetitive lives, but comfortable lives.’

The star added that she and Taylor, who live in Lake Tahoe, have been able to grow closer during the pandemic, saying it’s been a great ‘bonding experience.’ 

Helen and Taylor have been married for 24 years, after tying the knot in 1997. He has been wed twice before and has two children.

The actress and director were together for 11 years before saying I do.