It's Helen wheels as Mirren gears up for new Fast And Furious movie

Dame Helen Mirren has joined the cast of the latest Fast And Furious movie.

The film star has revealed she agreed to start in Fast 8 - on the condition that she gets a turn behind the wheel herself.

"It doesn't get better than this: Helen Mirren joins the Fast Family in #F8," the Fast and Furious Twitter account shared.

Dame Helen told an international fashion magazine that she was looking forward to being in a "fun" movie.

"I'm about to do Fast and Furious 8. But that's for the fun of it," she told Elle magazine.

The Prime Suspect and Elizabeth II star added: "I've always rather loved driving. I said, 'I'll be in it, but only if I'm allowed to drive if I do drive in it.'

"But we'll see. We'll see how it transpires."

On embracing the action movie, she said: "Film is a wonderful thing and it can be so many different things. I don't want to turn my back on any of the different ways movies can be.

"I love the movies. I love going to the films. I like very serious films, I love foreign films, and I love big, fun movies - as long as they're well made and they've got good scripts. That's the most important thing."

Fast 8, due for release next year, will also star Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Lucas Black, Kurt Russell and Jason Statham.