During her acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes, Helen Mirren delivered one of the most intense moments of the evening by paying tribute to the actresses who marked her life and career. To the surprise of many, the initial two names she cited were two legendary figures of Italian cinema: Monica Vitti and Anna Magnani.The famous British actress, hailed with a standing ovation, recalled the women who had most influenced her, including Jane Fonda, Bette Davis, and Judy Garland. The decision to begin the list with Vitti and Magnani, however, emphasized Mirren's longstanding relationship with Italian cinema and its most charismatic actresses. Mirren's speech was both ironic and emotional, recounting how her love of entertainment began as a child, amid theaters, cinemas, and the lights that dimmed, changing her life. A journey that led her to an extraordinary career, now celebrated with a recognition for a “life lived” rather than for a simple career, as she herself described the award.