Russell Brand Won Over Helen Mirren with Hard Work and Charm

Helen Mirren says she's come to adore Russell Brand, but at first she was "terrified" of working with the British comic because of his bad boy reputation.

The Oscar-winning actress stars with Russell in two new movies, The Tempest and Arthur, but admits she was worried about how she would get on with the reformed hellraiser.

During an appearance on British morning TV show Daybreak, she said: “I’m a bit infatuated with him. But I was terrified because, you know, it’s Russell Brand! Like the bad boy of bad boys. And I’m not a bad girl, I’m a good girl. And when good girls meet bad boys, terrible things can happen – mostly to the good girls.”

Despite her concerns, Helen and Russell -- who is married to Katy Perry -- struck up a great relationship on both sets and she has nothing but praise for him.

The 65-year-old star -- who plays Prospera in The Tempest, which is based on Shakespeare’s play of the same name -- said: “We did Arthur together which was really wonderful and it kind of sealed our relationship. And there I got to see what an amazing guy he is -- an incredible hard worker, kindest heart in the world, funny of course, he’s a great guy.”