Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Ian McKellen and Daniel Radcliffe Back Major Centenary Appeal for Denville Hall
Three of Britain’s most recognisable actors have joined forces to support a cause rooted in the less glamorous realities of life in the performing arts. Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Ian McKellen and Daniel Radcliffe have been announced as Presidents of a £26 million Centenary Appeal for Denville Hall, the residential care home for people working across the entertainment industry.
The appeal coincides with Denville Hall’s 100th anniversary. Founded in 1926 as a refuge for retired actors, the Northwood-based home has since expanded its remit to support performers, creatives and industry professionals from across stage and screen. Today it offers residential, nursing and specialist dementia care, alongside short-term stays, within a community shaped by shared professional lives rather than financial status.
The Centenary Appeal is focused on long-term sustainability. Half of the £26 million target will fund the construction of two new assisted-living buildings within the grounds, aimed at residents who are not at the end of their careers or lives but want independence alongside access to care. The development will also introduce new shared facilities, including a café, restaurant, cinema, gym and rehabilitation space, alongside fully accessible gardens.
The remaining £13 million will establish a permanent endowment, Alfred’s Fund, named after founder Alfred Denville. The fund is intended to secure Denville Hall’s running costs for the next century, recognising the financial instability that often accompanies a career in the arts, particularly within a freelance and gig-based economy.
For Mirren, the appeal speaks directly to the structural realities of creative life. She has described artistic careers as driven by vocation rather than long-term financial security, leaving even successful figures vulnerable later in life. McKellen, reflecting on more than six decades in theatre, has emphasised the collective nature of the industry and the need for mutual support when work disappears or circumstances change. Radcliffe, the youngest of the three presidents, has framed the appeal as an opportunity for the industry and its audiences to give back to those who have spent their lives providing entertainment and cultural value.
The campaign is being led from within the theatre world, with producers and philanthropists already supporting early fundraising efforts. A wider public appeal is expected to follow in spring 2026, alongside a programme of centenary events spanning theatre, film and live performance.
As the performing arts sector continues to reckon with precarity, ageing and access to care, Denville Hall’s centenary lands as more than a celebration. Backed by some of the industry’s most visible figures, the appeal makes a clear case for dignity, security and collective responsibility beyond the spotlight.
Feature image credit: Denville Hall OakGarden; Kalli – architecture & design, Forbes Rix – Interior design, London Garden Designer – landscape, CGIs by Schnabel
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.