John Oliver gets Helen Mirren to read CIA torture report

John Oliver has recruited Helen Mirren to read US Senate Intelligence Committee's report on torture during the 15-minute segment on his Last Week Tonight show.

The 38-year-old comedian had the award-winning actress read some of the more graphic sections from the report, the Independent reported.

The British comedian draws attention to the fact that 57 per cent of Americans believe that torture is an effective approach that provides information that prevents terror attacks, while only 46 percent of US believe in the Big Bang theory.

The depressing segment, occasionally partially lifted by Mirren's twisted rendition of Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit, underlines the common misconceptions surrounding torture and its effectiveness.

It also provides a bleak insight into practises including "rectal rehydration" and the horrendous treatment of US prisoners or detainees.