Diva Corgi Gets Fired From Helen Mirren’s Play ‘The Audience’

Lizzy, a 7-year old Corgi and an actress in Dame Helen Mirren’s latest West End production has been fired from the gig, reportedly for being a diva!

Diva Corgi Gets Fired From Helen Mirren’s Play ‘The Audience’

In the production, The Audience, Helen Mirren, 67, plays the role of Queen Elizabeth II. As part of her role, the Queen calls to Lizzy who is waiting off-stage with Corgi co-star, Rocky, in the wings. Lizzy is supposed to answer the call by running onstage. But, instead, the diva dog ignored her leading lady and just sat there, refusing.

A 5-year-old Corgi named Coco has now replaced Lizzy in the scene. Coco, apparently a natural on the stage, replaced Lizzy after only 20 minutes of training for the role. Coco and Rocky seem to be performing well together, perhaps because they’re the same age, 5-years.

“I think she decided she didn’t want to be an actress any more,” the play’s director, Stephen Daldry, joked to The Telegraph about Lizzy. “She decided to retire from the British stage. Now she’s back home, a resting actress, resting by the fire.”

Des Jordan, 42, of Animal Actors, the agency which provided the dogs, suggested the production had been hit by a notorious problem in theater – an aging diva who grew jealous of a younger co-star.

When the Corgis aren’t on stage at the Gielgud Theatre in London where The Audience is performed, they have their own air-conditioned dressing room, complete with dog beds and an assortment of doggy toys so they never get bored. Their trainer, Des Jordan, treats them as if they’re his own family.

Since being sacked from the show, Lizzy is now in Gloucestershire with Mary Davey, the owner of all three dogs. Davey told The Telegraph, “Lizzy is a lovely, friendly dog who is now enjoying her treats.”