Helen Mirren on Filming 1923 with Harrison Ford: “We Shoot the S— Off-Set”
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
When two Hollywood legends like Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford share the screen, audiences expect magic. But according to Mirren, the secret to their electric on-screen chemistry in the Yellowstone prequel 1923 might just lie in what happens when the cameras stop rolling.
No Trailers, No Fuss – Just Conversation
Mirren, 79, and Ford, 82, play Cara and Jacob Dutton in the hit Paramount+ series, which explores the earlier generations of the Dutton family. Off-set, the pair prefer a low-key, communal approach to downtime.
“We would sit around together and shoot the s— off-set,” Mirren told People in an exclusive interview. “Harrison is not like an ‘I’m going to my trailer’ person. I don’t think I ever knew him, or remember him going, ever, to his trailer. We hang around on the set and do our thing.”
It’s a work style that fosters camaraderie rather than isolation, and one that seems to set the tone for the whole production.
Ford, the “Bloke” Everyone Wants to Be Around
Mirren affectionately described Ford as “what in England we call a bloke” — a term for someone who’s down-to-earth and approachable. “Because he’s a bloke, all the other blokes absolutely love him, and quite rightfully,” she said.
Male crew members often gather around Ford between takes, drawn by his presence and easygoing nature. “And I tag along,” Mirren laughed, clearly enjoying being part of the relaxed, good-natured group.
Mutual Respect and Longstanding Rapport
Their on-set banter is backed by decades of mutual respect. Ford, returning the compliment, described Mirren as “what we used to call a broad” — quickly clarifying there’s “no disparagement in calling a Dame a broad.” For him, the term is praise: “It means that she’s a woman that has the bandwidth to hang with men — not just to be a lady with them, but to actually hang with them.”
“She’s a real cool lady,” Ford added. The two first worked together in 1986’s The Mosquito Coast, making 1923 a reunion almost 40 years in the making.
The Chemistry Behind the Characters
This mix of informality, shared humor, and genuine admiration seems to bleed into their performances, lending authenticity to the Dutton marriage they portray on-screen. In a series steeped in hardship, loyalty, and grit, the off-set ease between Mirren and Ford may be one of 1923’s most valuable assets.
In an industry where egos often retreat behind closed trailer doors, these two icons remind everyone — cast, crew, and audience alike — that sometimes the best work happens when you simply stay present and enjoy the company.
