The queen of the big screeen, Helen Mirren dazzled at the Toronto Film Festival as she stepped out on the red carpet to promote new film Brighton Rock.

The actress, 65, appeared in a strapless dress with a white shawl for the premiere.

The film is based on Graham Greene's novel of the same name and is about a young thug obsessed with hell. It was shot entirely in the Sussex seaside town.

Director Rowan Joffe has made some changes to the story he compares to a great piece of Shakespearen literature.

Mirren revealed she enjoyed it too: "I had read the book and I am a fan of Graham Greene's.

"It's always dangerous to mess with a really good piece literature, which is what Brighton Rock is. But I do feel that Rowan's decision of bringing it into the sixties was good for the movie. I thought it was great."

Brighton Rock is released in the UK in February 2011.