An extraordinary war of words has broken out between actress Dame Helen Mirren and director Michael Winner.

Oscar-winner Dame Helen recalled in a TV show how Winner treated her "like a piece of meat" by making her show off her body during a casting session.

She was an up-and-coming actress at the time of the encounter in 1964.

She told Channel 4's Richard and Judy: "I was mortified and incredibly angry. I thought it was insulting and sexist, and I don't think any actress should be treated like that - like a piece of meat - at all.

"Even if they hadn't done the kind of work that I've done, it was incredibly insulting. I was so angry, I was so angry - I still am."

Asked whether her anger was aimed solely at the Death Wish director, Dame Helen replied: "Who else? Only him. Who else is to blame?"

Winner, 72, now a restaurant critic, responded to the comments by saying the actress had "enormous sagging boobs".

"The only time I ever met Helen Mirren, it was as a favour to her agent Margaret Johnston, who was a real friend of mine," the Daily Express reported.

"She rang me and said she had photographs of Helen in which she had these enormous sagging boobs. She thought the photographs wouldn't help her get work."

According to Winner, Ms Johnston asked Winner to impress upon Dame Helen the need to wear a bra.

He explained: "I saw Helen and as I had been instructed to deal with the situation of her breasts, I did indeed ask her to stand up. I don't remember asking her to turn around but if I did, I wasn't being serious.

"I can see it now. She was wearing a peasant blouse and a skirt in the photographs - with enormous bosoms which were sagging a bit even though she was young. I was only doing what the agent asked me - and for this I get reviled!

"Helen's a lovely person, she's a great actress and I'm a huge fan, but her memory of that moment is a little flawed."

Explore Film

• Film Reviews

• Trailers

• DVD

• London Film Festival

Editor's choice

• The 100 Best Films of the Decade
• 70 facts you didn't know about Marvel
• The 50 Biggest Movies Of 2010