Helen Mirren to play Prospero in The Tempest

London (ANI): Dame Helen Mirren will play a female Prospero in a new big screen version of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest". Director Julie Taymor has changed the gender of the central character to accommodate the British actress in her latest Shakespeare adaptation and has made no apologies for her radical casting choice.

“I wanted to do it because there are actresses like Helen Mirren who never get to play these fantastic parts because they were not written for women," the Daily Express quoted her as saying. “Changing the role doesn"t hurt the play, it enhances it," she added.

The movie, due for release in December, sees the actress playing a scorned woman accused of witchcraft who seeks revenge against her enemies.