If anyone can make vaccinations sexy, it’s Helen Mirren.

It’s not always easy to find something to laugh about in the middle of a pandemic, but Mirren has done just that in a hilarious new video promoting Covid-19 vaccinations. The British actress showed off her cheeky sense of humour in a new Italian advert extolling the benefits of vaccination and herd immunity.

The video also stars one of Italy’s best-known comedians, Checco Zalone, the stage name of Luca Pasquale Medici, and was filmed in Puglia, Italy, where Mirren owns a home. The three-minute video tells the story of a man, played by Zalone, who falls in love with Mirren’s character after learning that she’s received both doses of her Covid-19 vaccine.

It opens with Zalone driving through the Italian countryside, where he happens upon Mirren doing a spot of gardening. He hops out of his car to ask her a question and it’s then that he notices the mark on her arm where she received her injections.

What follows is a swoon-inducing love affair that sees the pair dance through an orchard, enjoy a spot of Bocce and take up knitting together. Zalone also breaks into song, telling the world he loves his “immunised old girl”.

“I love to dance with you, O’Vacinada, face to face with this immunised old girl,” he sings to Mirren.

“I don’t care if your ankles are a bit swollen.

“Your movements are so suave and sensual it seems your femur is original.”

The video has already received over 2.5 million views, with fans praising Mirren’s ability to toe the line between promoting Covid-19 vaccinations and poking fun at herself.

“This is the difference between being a good artist and becoming a legend,” one fans wrote. “Knowing how to laugh at yourself is the key to achieving personal serenity.”

Another added: “What a beautiful expression of love for this feeling of freedom that the vaccine will certainly provide for everyone.”

The video comes as Italy reached its target of administering 500,000 vaccines per day after a slow start to its distribution of jabs, with at least 14 million people receiving their first injection so far.