She has played Cleopatra and the Queen and won a clutch of prestigious film and theatre awards all while looking fabulous along the way. Dame Helen Mirren is truly a remarkable woman and in her eighth decade she shows little sign of slowing down.
“Age has a way of making you think less about yourself, but long ago I stopped worrying about selfish things, how I look, what others think of me,” says the divine Dame Helen Mirren, with typically breathless abandon. Before we can respond she rallies off yet more philosophy: “You see, when you’re younger, you tend to think that you’re the centre of the universe. Eventually you learn to enjoy how others help make your world a more interesting place. I enjoy being older – I think it’s pretty cool, in fact.”
In truth, most think Mirren is ‘pretty cool’. At 73 she is as outspoken and glamorous as the young breakthrough who sat on chat show sofas all of four decades ago, reducing hosts to quivering wrecks.
Mirren’s desire was to be taken seriously as an actress despite what she gloriously referred to as her “equipment”; and years of hard work achieved that recognition, as she became the crown jewel of British National treasures after winning an Academy Award and a Tony for her portrayal of Her Majesty in The Queen and The Audience respectively. She is also a staunch feminist and in the past, out of frustration for constantly being asked why she has not had children replied: “I have no maternal instincts whatsoever.” Put quite simply, Mirren is a woman who lives her life how she pleases, with her own values and rules; so naturally she isn’t about to let a little thing like getting older spoil her fun.
“I was very insecure in my twenties and only gradually did I learn how the world works and how to find my way around it,” explains Mirren. “I had to go through some tough experiences before I really understood myself and how to play the game you need to play to get ahead. But once you figure it all out then life is much easier and the world becomes your playground.”
Her stellar rise has been rather extraordinary. Born to working-class parents, she was originally set to be a teacher but, aged 18, auditioned for The National Youth Theatre, and by 20 was playing Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra at London’s Old Vic Theatre. Over the years she has successfully conquered all possible dramatic mediums, dazzled the theatre world on both sides of the Atlantic, worked consistently in Hollywood and starred on the small screen too.
Away from acting commitments, Mirren has, fittingly, found herself a face for L’Oréal Paris Age perfect moisturiser. In the commercial she looks incredible wearing a leather jacket and bright red lipstick. At one point she turns to the camera and says “age is just a number, and maths was never my thing”. The advert works because you never get the impression the actress is playing anyone younger – she is simply being Helen Mirren… graceful, bolshie and beautiful at any age.
In her private life Mirren has been with American director Taylor Hackford for almost 30 years. The pair wed in 1997 and although they don’t have children together he has two from his previous marriage. “I’ve been incredibly, incredibly fortunate. I’ve been able to stay healthy, find good work, and enjoy the company of a wonderful man.”
While the Dame admits she’s happy relaxing in the couple’s picture-perfect Italian retreat, she cannot resist the lure of work. “I often tell my husband, ‘I’ve done enough… I’m not going to keep pushing myself’. But he’s so used to hearing me say that he doesn’t even pay attention anymore. The terrible truth is that I simply cannot resist a good role. I mean, what’s to stop me? I need to keep the aphids away from the garden, but that’s about it.
“Age certainly doesn’t put me off getting out there. Fortunately I’m someone whose nature it is to live very much in the present and not get depressed about my age or appearance.”
And that’s the magic of Mirren – that combination of graciousness and fearlessness. She is someone incredibly committed and passionate about her work without ever giving rise to the media or what people expect her to be. “I would rather get on with my life. One good thing about getting older is that even though you might not look as good as you once did, you just don’t care!”
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