Dame Helen Mirren thinks the death of the royal hoax nurse is "incredibly tragic".

The actress - who played Prince William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth in the 2006 film 'The Queen' - has spoken of her shock at the apparent suicide of nurse Jacintha Saldanha following a prank call made by Australian radio DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian to the King Edward VII Hospital in London to find out the condition of the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge, who was admitted to the hospital last week for severe morning sickness.

11 December 2012
The DJs spoke with Jacintha when they called the hospital impersonating the queen and Prince Charles and obtained sensitive information about Catherine - who was known as Kate Middleton before she married William - and just 48 after the broadcast of the call Jacintha was found dead on Friday.

Speaking to BANG Showbiz at the premiere of her new film 'Hitchock' in London on Sunday, Helen said the death of the nurse was a tragedy, but she still feels empathy towards the two DJs.

She said: "I think that was incredibly tragic, and unfortunate, and silly. People do these silly things for a laugh. We've all done them, incidentally, and I don't think opprobrium should be laid upon the heads of those two very, very silly Australians.

"[It was] just horribly, horribly tragic. You just don't know what to say really. Just awful."

The 67-year-old actress - who won the Best Actress Oscar for portraying Queen Elizabeth - also expressed her joy for Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge and she believes they will make great parents.

She added: "The pregnancy of any young couple is a wonderful thing to celebrate."

Other stars at the premiere at the British Film Institute Cinema included Sir Anthony Hopkins - who portrays the iconic director in the biopic - and the film's director Sacha Gervasi.

© 2013 Bang Showbiz, NZCity