TINSELTOWN SPYWITNESS.

Byline: Joel Stratte-McClure and Iain Blair

ROYALLY RACY: Dressed-in-red Helen Mirren was preparing to watch her performance as Queen Elizabeth II at the L.A. premiere of ``The Queen'' on Tuesday night when she received a rude fashion wake-up call.

``She doesn't look remotely like the queen but is a racy chick tonight,'' director Stephen Frears told Angela Lansbury, Doris Roberts, Jacqueline Bisset, Minnie Driver, Donna D'Errico and others in the audience at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. ``I'm shocked. I apologize. God save the queen.''

Frears, himself wearing comfy red sneakers, explained at the after-party in the foyer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences that he was simply startled by Mirren's Zac Posen dress.

``She suddenly turns up in a sort of short skirt whereas I expected a regal ball gown like she'd worn at the film festival in Venice,'' Frears said as Mirren walked down the red-carpeted staircase on the arm of husband Taylor Hackford. ``It's not done. It's so common. I dread to think what the real queen would think.''

Although Rex Lee from ``Entourage'' told partying friends that Mirren merits an Oscar for her portrayal of the queen, it was 6-foot-6 James Cromwell who towered above the crowd.

``I've always looked down on people, and this role enabled me to be extremely arrogant, distant and haughty,'' joked Cromwell, who plays Prince Philip in the portrait of the British royals following the death of Princess Diana.

``Philip illustrates that, like the rich, the royals are definitely different from you and me, from the way they deal with death and taxes to the way they talk and dress.''

Fortunately Cromwell had the common sense to wear a dark suit that didn't upset the director.

SPOTLIGHT ON FIREFIGHTERS: No, there wasn't a multi-alarm fire at the Directors Guild of America on Tuesday night. The fleet of shiny red fire trucks, L.A. Fire Chief William Bamattre and more than 200 firefighters in full dress uniform had shown up for the world premiere of ``Into the Fire.'' The documentary, which debuts on the History Channel on Oct. 13, explores the role of firefighters to the tune of an inspired soundtrack featuring Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Dire Straits.

``One thing most people don't realize is that many firefighters are unpaid volunteers,'' noted host Chris O'Donnell, looking smart in a suit and military buzz-cut. ``All these men and women do an amazing job, and the awareness needs to be raised now.''

Director Bill Couturie is certainly aware of the importance of being a firefighter.

``I live in Ojai, and it's thanks to the firefighters that the Day Fire wasn't a far worse disaster,'' Couturie said. ``They're all heroes.''

But not everyone is destined to fight fires.

``I certainly won't be going up the ladders on those firetrucks,'' laughed Stacy Keibler, attired in an all-black Kenneth Cole outfit. ``That looks pretty scary, and I admire anyone who can do it. But my uncle was a firefighter and I grew up knowing what they do. I've always had a place in my heart for supporting firefighters.''

And based on the attention she got on the red carpet, it looks like firefighters have a place in their hearts for her.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) FREARS and MIRREN: Dressed to impress ... sort of

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

(2) KEIBLER: Setting plenty of hearts on fire

Lester Cohen/WireImage.com