Police investigating possible hate crime after Dame Helen Mirren accosted by pro-Palestine supporter

In the video, the legendary British actress is seen walking along the street in Tower Hill, London, with her husband, American film director Taylor Hackford, before being approached.

The clip, which was first posted by an anonymous account called Anti-Fascist Action UK, shows the Oscar winner, 80, smiling as she greets the man and asks if he is OK.

However, suddenly, the stranger launches into a tirade over Dame Helen’s support for Israel.

He says: ‘And there is Helen Mirren, the avowed Zionist. You said Israel should last forever because of the Holocaust. And she was very happy the Palestinians’ houses were gone.

‘You are an evil Zionist b***h. And you, [Hackford], as well, f**k you as well.’

With the situation becoming more hostile, Dame Helen’s husband, 81, stepped in and repeatedly told the man to ‘f**k off’ and leave them alone.

It has since emerged that the video was filmed last year.

The Met has since said they are trying to get in contact with Dame Helen to see if she wants to report the incident formally.

In a statement, a Met spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of a video circulating online, showing a man and a woman being subjected to antisemitic verbal abuse in Tower Hill.

‘It is believed that the incident took place at the end of last year.

‘Officers are currently reviewing the footage and making attempts to contact the victims to establish whether they would like to report the incident.

‘The Met continues to work hard to tackle hate crimes of all types, and officers across London have made more than 90 hate crime arrests since the end of March.’

Their statement concluded: ‘If you believe you have been a victim of this type of crime, please report it to us by calling 101 or making an online report.’

Following the now-viral incident, Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick said he was ‘disgusted’ at the footage, telling LBC: ‘I was disgusted by it, but antisemitism is unfortunately rife, and nobody who is either Jewish or has voiced support for the British Jewish community should be being harassed on the streets of our country.

‘It’s not just antisemitism, it’s anti-British. Everyone should be able to walk the streets of our country in safety, free from harassment.’

Dame Helen, who is not Jewish, has previously been outspoken in her support for Israel and any opposition to cultural boycotts against the country.

Last month, she signed an open letter alongside stars including Amy Schumer, Mila Kunis, Sharon Osbourne, and Boy George, which backed Israel’s inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The Thursday Murder Club star has also portrayed several notable Jewish figures on screen, including Maria Altmann in Woman in Gold and former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in the 2023 film Golda.

While promoting Golda, she said: ‘I believe in Israel, in the existence of Israel, and I believe Israel has to go forward into the future, for the rest of eternity. I believe in Israel because of the Holocaust.’