I caught a brief article through the AP about a flick featuring Mariah Carey as a social worker. It’s called Precious, and it’s produced by Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey, and the director’s first choice for Mariah’s role was Helen Mirren. When she dropped out, Lee Daniels called on Mariah — who is 25 years younger than Helen — to play the role. He trusted Mariah’s acting skills, but he didn’t want a diva showing up on set to play a humble role. “If you come with a strip of makeup on,” he told her, “I will have a backup (actress).”

The article went on to say that Mariah’s performance in the film — which hits theaters November 6 — has garnered high praise from critics. I was VERY curious to see exactly how Mariah had slipped into a role imagined for Helen Freakin’ Mirren, so I checked out the trailer on YouTube. It’s above. I have to admit, not only does Mariah seem to be doing a great job, but the whole movie looks absolutely brilliant and touching and very human, and I can’t wait to see it. A far cry from Glitter, Mariah. (Although I still think of that Eminem diss track every time I hear your name these days.)

I knew this was coming after this shit hit the fan on Tuesday.

“Helen Mirren does not dispute the accuracy of statements attributed to her in an upcoming GQ article,” read a statement released Tuesday by Mirren’s publicist, Stan Rosenfield.

“She merely asks that people read the article in its entirety before drawing conclusions. If they do that, she says, their conclusions will likely be far less sweeping and sensational than those drawn by some in the popular press. She does not wish to qualify any of her remarks. She just wants to avoid having them presented in inflammatory language.”

Okay, Helen. I’ll wait for the entire article. I know all too well what it feels like when people take your words out of context. But if there still remains any lingering possibility that you think rape is, under any circumstances, not a crime, I’ll have some inflammatory language of my own for you.

But just for the record?

I always liked Cate Blanchett’s Queen Elizabeth better.

Ugh.

Head exploding.

That’s been happening a lot lately, kids.

Will someone else please puzzle out this quote Helen Mirren gave to GQ when asked if she was ever raped? Because it’s just hurting my head. And, while we’re at it, can someone else explain WTF anyone is doing talking to Helen Mirren about date rape?

“I was, yes. A couple of times. Not with excessive violence, or being hit, but rather being locked in a room and made to have sex against my will. I don’t think [a woman] can have that man into court under those circumstances [if she starts with him and then says 'no']. It’s such a tricky area, isn’t it? Especially if there is no violence. I mean, look at Mike Tyson. I don’t think he was a rapist.”

Ugh.

Maybe I need to wait until the entire article comes out to determine if this somehow was a more acceptable statement in context, but right now I’m just a tad bit annoyed that Helen Mirren decided to go on the record stating that date rape is okay as long as no one gets hurt. Head. Exploding.

Oh, and she also did a bunch of coke when she was younger but stopped after she realized that buying cocaine was helping to fund Nazi war criminals. Which is, I suppose, as good a reason to quit snorting coke as any.

More here.