Mirren said she had to ?completely empty? herself for the role because of the difference between the character she plays and her real-life personality.
The film, based on a novel of the same name by Hungarian writer Magda Szabó, also stars the German actress Martina Gedeck, best known from The Lives of Others and The Baader Meinhof Complex.
Gedeck praised Mirren?s work in the film, saying the actress would ?be a queen even in the role of a housemaid?.
Director Szabó said he had had many conversations with Magda Szabó about adapting one of her books for the screen but the writer passed away before a novel was picked.
?Magda Szabó wrote some wonderful books. I feel that The Door stands out among these wonderful books as a masterpiece. I hope that the actors who think the same way about this book can bring to life and add spirit to Magda Szabó?s characters,? Szabó said earlier about the German-Hungarian co-production.
The Door opened in Hungarian theatres on Thursday. It will be released in Germany on April 5.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
