Movie-goers in Beijing will be lucky enough to catch "The Queen," a film inspired by the late Princess Diana on Friday, one month earlier than audiences in other Chinese cities.

Friday coincides with the 10th anniversary of Diana's death.

Beijing audience may be even luckier as news reports suggest that Helen Mirren, who won an Oscar for her portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in the film, will greet the Chinese capital later this year to promote the screening.

Wednesday's Beijing Times quoted the film's Chinese distributor as saying that Helen Mirren is planning a Beijing trip in late September, while another source says the date is in October.

The 2006 film, directed by Stephen Frears, takes a behind-the-scene glimpse at Queen Elizabeth II and the British royal family following the death of Princess Diana in 1997.

Several top awards are attached to the film, including a best actress award of the 2006 Venice Film Festival, best screenplay of the same year's British Independent Film Awards, as well as Helen Mirren's Oscar and Golden Globe wins.

Actress Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen."

(CRI.cn August 30, 2007)