Mirren to launch cruise ship

Helen Mirren is set to name and launch her first ship - a duty almost exclusively performed by British royalty.

The actress - who won an Academy Award for her portrayal of British monarch the Queen in the 2006 film of the same name - has been deemed sufficiently regal to conduct the April 16 inauguration of new cruise ship 'Ventura' in the UK.

She says: "It is the first time I have ever named a ship, let alone one of the size of Ventura."

Nigel Esdale, managing director of P&O Cruises, the company which operates the ship, says: "Dame Helen Mirren embodies glamour, vitality and Britishness, which are all values that will be a feature of Ventura. We are delighted that Dame Helen is to be associated with her."