A stalwart of stage and screen for most of her life, Dame Helen Mirren is an icon of our times. An Oscar-winner for her role in 2006 film The Queen - playing, of course, the late Queen Elizabeth II - she continues to be at the top of her game in recent roles on the likes of Mobland and The Thursday Murder Club.

But away from her career, the actor, who will soon turn 81, does worry about the state of the world today, and is concerned about the forces who want to turn the tide against the progress women have made.

Speaking in the July issue of woman&home, Helen says, ‘Misogyny, hatred and fear of women is always lurking and waiting to raise its head. And it’s raising its head again, through the manosphere and the religious right, whatever religion that is.

‘But parallel to that, you have more women in American law schools than men, and in my lifetime I have seen amazing change. The world expert on marine life comes on the television and it’s a woman!

‘But the forces that want to drag women back down and shut them up are always there, and I worry it’s rising again.’

However, she does remain positive. ‘I’m also hoping that women have come too far now, we can’t be pulled back down,’ she adds, and is excited to see what happens next. ‘What keeps me positive? The excitement of life. The development of life is extraordinary. On the one hand, amazing things happen, and then there are also constants that never change. It’s interesting to watch the new things bash against each other, or work with each other or fight each other. It’s incredible to witness.’

And in addition to an incredible back catalogue of work, Helen is now working on a passion project behind-the-scenes. With the help of friends in the south of Italy, where she and husband Taylor Hackford spend a lot of time, they are working together to fight a battle against a disease ruining the ancient olive groves of the region.

Xylella fastidiosa is a slow-burning disease, which came in through a port and has slowly been destroying groves that have been around for generations. With a group of locals, Helen and Taylor set up a campaign called Save The Olives, aiming to bring attention to the issue to a global audience.

‘There is a fix to help these wonderful trees, but it’s a slow fix. We graft them. In grafting you have to cut these ancient trees right back, then you graft, and two or three years later, they begin to grow. It’s not an immediate fix but it does at least save some of them.

We are also working with experts to develop species that can be immune. The olive oil company Filippo Berio is now working with us, which is massive, and we are working towards creating more Xylella-resistant species – it’s the way forward,’ she reveals.

Helen has a huge love for Italy going back decades, when she first began to learn Italian while starring in the film Caligula back in the late 1970s.

And she believes her background as the daughter of an immigrant - her father was part of the exiled Russian nobility and she was born Ilyena Lydia Mironoff, while her mother was English and born in east London - is one of the reasons she feels so comfortable in the region.

‘There are many things I love about Italy. The history, the culture, the beauty. But in the end, it’s about people. The people of Salento are very different from the people in Milan, but there is a bond that ties them all together, and that’s to do with family, food and the love of community.

‘I’m the daughter of an immigrant, and our family has always slightly floated on the surface of community because we were never quite sure where we fitted. In Italy, there is this profound feeling of belonging to the culture, to the history and the traditions. That’s what I truly love about it, plus the generosity of spirit. If you’re paying for something and they’re giving you the change, they always round it up! And then very often they’ll give you a present, a little keychain or something – it’s in the culture. It makes you feel a part of it.’

Whether you're heading to a summer wedding, a day at the races or perhaps a garden party, you might suddenly find yourself asking what should I wear today? Choosing an outfit for a special occasion can seem daunting, but when in doubt, there's nothing better than a monochrome outfit - just ask Helen Mirren.

The actress was spotted conversing with King Charles at The King's Trust 50th Anniversary garden party in a timeless black and white outfit. Easily one of the most elegant colour combinations that stylists love, this contrasting pairing always makes for a visually interesting outfit.

To form the basis of her outfit, Helen chose the Suzannah Lexi silk twill shirt dress. What looks from afar like polka dots on the dress, are actually little ladybirds! The designer is a go-to choice for celebrities and royals alike, with the Princess of Wales wearing styles from the British clothing brand regularly. In fact, Holly Willoughby was also at the same event as Helen in a pink cape dress by the same designer.

Monochrome looks are incredibly versatile as you can stick to just two colours for a pared-back look, or add a pop of a single colour for a flourish.

Shop the look

Helen stuck to a black and white colour palette, accessorising with a black headband, white DeMellier handbag and black Mary Jane heels. The block heels were not only a stylish choice but a sensible one, helping the actress avoid sinking into the lawn at Buckingham Palace.

For long days on your feet at events, this style is up there with the most comfortable wedding guest shoes. Equally, the classic design will work with many summer outfit ideas, so make sure to add a pair to your summer capsule wardrobe.

Polka dots are at the forefront of the spring/summer fashion trends 2026, but this classic style returns time and again, so an investment in this print won't be money wasted.

If you opt for a dress with long sleeves, you can also wear it year-round by styling it appropriately for the season. Switch your shoe choices for your most comfortable sandals in the summer and a pair of your favourite suede boots in colder weather. If you're heading to a wedding or outdoor event this spring, try adding your best trench coat for an elegant outerwear option. This style will work year-round, just make sure to reach for a coat that has a similar hem length to your dress.

The death of Princess Diana on 31st August 1997 sent shockwaves around the world and amid the outpouring of grief many found it bewildering that Queen Elizabeth was nowhere to be seen. At the time she attracted considerable criticism for initially staying at Balmoral instead of immediately returning to London to mourn with the nation.

However, Dame Helen Mirren believes that the Queen did the "right thing" by putting her grandchildren first following this tragedy. Opening up on the BBC documentary, Queen Elizabeth: Her Story, Our Centenary, which airs at 9pm on 17th April, the actor praised her response.

"Difficult for anyone to really know quite how to handle it," Helen said. "I think she did exactly the right thing. I think she was right to stay in Balmoral with the children and I think when she came out and did the very, very difficult walk by all the flowers and everything, that was the right thing to do."

Queen Elizabeth arrived in London five days after Princess Diana died, the day before her former daughter-in-law’s funeral service. She met with mourners and viewed floral tributes, but she was also aware of how the public had reacted to her absence and addressed this choice in a message broadcast to the nation that evening.

"This week at Balmoral, we have all been trying to help William and Harry come to terms with the devastating loss that they and the rest of us have suffered," she declared. "No-one who knew Diana will ever forget her. Millions of others who never met her, but felt they knew her, will remember her. I for one believe there are lessons to be drawn from her life and from the extraordinary and moving reaction to her death."

She delivered these words from her heart as the "Queen and as a grandmother" and had begun her address by paying tribute to Diana personally.

"She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness," she said. "I admired and respected her - for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys."

Queen Elizabeth had responded firstly as a grandmother and then led the nation in mourning as their monarch - and it makes sense why Helen Mirren believes these were the "right" choices. Prince William was 15 and Prince Harry 12 when their mother passed away and the older Prince has said how in the "dark days of grief that followed [he] found comfort and solace in the Scottish outdoors".

Prince Harry has also been open about what it was like grieving Princess Diana in the public eye when they were back in London and seeing thousands of strangers crying for his mother.

"I cried once, at the burial, and you know I go into detail [in Spare] about how strange it was and how actually there was some guilt that I felt, and I think William felt as well, by walking around the outside of Kensington Palace," he said in a 2023 interview. "There were 50,000 bouquets of flowers to our mother and there we were shaking people's hands".

"Everyone thought and felt like they knew our mum, and the two closest people to her, the two most loved people by her, were unable to show any emotion in that moment," Harry added.

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Story, Our Century Sunday 19^th April at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

The white button-up is a classic for a reason. Crisp, timeless and seriously versatile, not only is the style an office wear hero, a casual staple – and now Dame Helen Mirren has proved without a doubt it can also work as refined evening wear, too.

Stepping out at the 2026 Olivier Awards, she wore a monochrome look made up of a white, A-line shirt dress from Patrick McDowell’s Fall 2026 collection and styled it with the Sole Bliss poet heels in black suede, which tied in the minimalistic, black floral detail on the dress effortlessly. McDowell’s collection was all about black and white, with every piece sent down the runway crisp and elegant, which is exactly how Helen looked with her minimal accessorising.

The good news is, to recreate her outfit, you don’t need to invest in a luxury, runway shirt dress like Helen’s Patrick McDowell piece. Getting her timeless style on a budget is actually super easy, especially when you think of her ensemble as two separate pieces: a white button-up and a voluminous, A-line skirt. Shop the pieces we’ll be relying on to get her look below.

Recreate Helen Mirren's Evening Wear Look

Helen’s outfit is a masterclass in how to wear monochrome, as well as being perfect inspiration for spring-ready evening attire and date night outfit ideas. As Helen proves, black and white make for a classic combination that you really can’t go wrong with, and the monochrome palette offers an easy shortcut to create an elegant and timeless look this season.

Teaming the capsule wardrobe staple of a classic white shirt with a voluminous midi skirt makes a great alternative to a shirt dress. Taking notes from Helen's style, if you are pairing a shirt with a fuller skirt, make sure to highlight your waist, and cinch yourself in by using a belt either in the same fabric or in a contrasting colour to help create that fit and flared look. A more fitted top half and voluminous bottom half will help to create a balanced silhouette.

Leaning into a more quiet luxury-inspired look, Helen kept her accessories to a minimum, and this played perfectly into the understated tonal colour palette for a more cohesive outfit. The cross-hatch straps on her heels added just enough interest to complement the look, while also offering a timeless touch, too.

Spring is so close, meaning transitional outfits are coming to the fore. It can be a tricky time of year to dress for, not quite warm enough to lose cosy layers, but not cold enough for oversized knits. However, Helen Mirren delivered excellent style inspiration during an appearance at London Fashion Week on the 22nd of February.

Sitting front row at Erdem's show, the actress was dressed head to toe in the brand and danced the line between refined spring style and cool-weather outfits perfectly. In Erdem’s pleated floral-print cotton-poplin midi skirt, Helen showed herself to be an early adopter of this season's bloom print trend, and the white base with navy print was teamed effortlessly with Erdem’s wool-blend collared cardigan.

Tying everything together with a pair of patent, Mary Jane shoes, Helen Mirren's pretty and chic outfit is ideal for early spring weather. The navy hue is a much lighter and brighter option than classic black, and the addition of a white brace makes this look ready to embrace the sun.

Get Helen Mirren's Navy Style

Of course, florals are going to be abundant in spring capsule wardrobes, but at the moment, we want floral pieces that don't feel too spring-like and can still fit seamlessly into overcast days. Opting for floral patterns in more neutral, muted hues like navy is, Helen proves, a great way to do just that.

Her cardigan is another timeless staple for this time of year, and her elegant styling proves that the humble cardigan can feel totally glamorous when styled the right way. The flattering shade is a versatile one that can be worn alongside any of the hues currently dominating spring/summer colour trends for 2026.

Helen’s look proves that transitional dressing doesn’t have to be tricky. By marrying cross-season pieces like knitwear with more seasonal prints like florals, her outfit is effortlessly pulled together. By relying on a muted, navy neutral, it can work for numerous occasions.

Whether she’s on screen with an Oscar-winning portrayal of the Queen or gliding down the runways, it’s hard to think of Dame Helen Mirren as anything other than a true star. But even the legendary actress had moments of self-doubt.

Comparing herself to the 'beautiful, tall, thin, gorgeous actresses' she’d find herself alongside at awards shows, Dame Helen revealed there was one surprising accessory that would stop her feeling like 'this dumpy little five-foot-four thing amongst them - stripper heels'.

Perhaps not the first pair of shoes one would associate with the award winner, Helen shared the hilarious revelation with British Vogue while at London Fashion Week.

In a clip posted to the brand’s social media, Helen recalled her first pair of platform heels sourced from a Hollywood Boulevard 'stripper shop'.

"In my early days in L.A. [at] the awards things, there would be all these actresses like Nicole Kidman…these beautiful, tall, thin, gorgeous actresses, and I'd be like this dumpy little 5'4 thing amongst them.

"And at that time, platform heels were not in fashion, so the only place I could find a platform heel was in the stripper shops on Hollywood Boulevard. It was $39.99."

Helen fondly remembered those 'first pair of stripper heels' and claims 'they worked like magic - suddenly I was up there eye-to-eye with Nicole Kidman'.

Nothing if not resourceful! Luckily, platforms have had quite the revival since those days.

Shop platform heels

While 'stripper heels' might have helped her find her confidence in the earlier days of her movie career, it’s her consistency with her health and beauty routines that have kept Dame Helen looking radiant through the decades.

On keeping active and agile, the Oscar winner has previously dismissed the idea of needing to join fancy gyms or try complicated fads - opting for a 12 minute workout you can do anywhere.

She has spoken of being a 'big believer in the Royal Canadian Air Force women’s exercise regime', which follows four charts of ten exercises, arranged in order of difficulty and is designed to boost muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and heart efficiency.

No surprise considering it was a cheaper pair of platforms that helped her unlock her confidence to begin with, but some of Helen’s known beauty tricks are also surprisingly lowkey and affordable.

In the past, she has revealed she swears by a cheap £10 beauty trick involving castor oil - which she uses for her hair, skin and nails. She told People magazine, "Castor oil's amazing. A tiny bit on your hair gives it a little shine, a little separation. [I use it on my] eyebrows, eyelashes, fingernails - just rub it in."

Tonight marks the eighth year of L'Oréal Paris Le Défilé, an event that celebrates the power of self-worth and draws some of the world's biggest stars. Among them is British acting legend Dame Helen Mirren. A proud L’Oréal Paris ambassador since 2014 and no stranger to the runway, Helen has graced Le Défilé’s catwalk four times, making each appearance unforgettable.

In an interview with woman&home yesterday Helen told me, "The first time, I couldn't believe it. They said, 'we’ll be doing it down the middle of the Champs-Élysées'. I said, 'what?'

"The walkway was down the middle of the Champs-Élysées, with the Arc de Triomphe there, and… really? My mind was blown."

But it was her second appearance at L'Oréal Paris Le Défilé, in 2019, that she remembers most fondly and as a standout for feeling empowered.

"I had been given the most lovely floaty dress and high heel stilettos to wear. They were gorgeous and I love fantastic shoes. But I was tottering along in them – I could hardly walk. I managed it, but it was very sort of one foot in front of the other.

"So I'm in the line up waiting to go on, all the hair and makeup and everything's done and we’re slowly moving towards the entrance. And I suddenly thought, ‘I'm going to take these shoes off. I just don't want to wear these shoes. I can't do it in these shoes.’

"So I took them off and sent a message down to the powers that be, and I said, 'Look, I'm taking my shoes off. I hope you don't mind.'

Helen laughed as she recalled the memory, noting there was little anyone could do about her decision in that moment.

"I felt so liberated having seen all the other models sort of walking precariously around. I was the last person to go on and so I thought 'I’m just going to wait.'

"So I waited a little bit. Didn’t go on when I was supposed to, and I thought, ‘I’m going to run on.’ It's my theatrical background, you know, knowing when to break the rhythm. And then I ran on and the dress floated and, oh, it was fabulous. Wearing something that just sort of floated, the whole thing was just gorgeous."

woman&home fashion channel editor Rivkie Baum says, "Fashion week is well known for its theatrics, and the annual L'Oreal Paris Le Défilé show is always a wonderful watch. With many familiar faces on the runway, the show celebrates the power of self-worth, and while I'm always watching for the clothes, the theatrics brought by the special guests make the event what it is.

"When Helen Mirren decided to discard her hard-to-walk-in stilettos back in 2019, she truly embodied what the event stood for. Rather than just wearing what she was given, Helen made that moment her own and reminded everyone that fashion and style is simply there as a tool of self-expression."

But it's not just Helen's outfits that get everyone talking at the show; her makeup for the event gets just as much attention. So we couldn't have a catch up without talking about beauty, and she was happy to share some of her favourite L'Oreal Paris products, below.

woman&home beauty channel editor Fiona McKim says: "The L’Oréal Paris’ Le Défilé show is always my highlight of Paris Fashion Week.

"Never mind next season’s designer collections, give me Helen Mirren in punk black eyeliner or cascading disco curls any day. Dame Helen is known for her fearless hair and beauty looks on the red carpet, so it’s no surprise that she rules the L’Oréal runway with a similarly rebellious spirit.

"2019’s triumphant, barefoot run isn’t just a spontaneous moment of magic; it’s also the ideal foil to her intricate, perfected, smoky eye and sculpted, swept-back hairstyle. There’s no telling what major beauty moment we’ll see tonight, but I’ll be watching."

L’Oréal Paris’ Le Défilé 2025 takes place on Monday, September 29th, at 20:00 CEST (19:00 UK time).

Whether you call it color blocking or drenching, wearing one shade from head to toe always looks chic and will make a style statement in the most polished and put-together way. You don’t need to go all out in a super bright tone either - soft neutrals like beige or gray will work beautifully, as well as jet black or fresh white.

Helen Mirren showed us all how it’s done earlier this month while at the screening of The Thursday Murder Club in New York. The 80-year-old star opted for a matching white ribbed jumper and wide leg pants look, which she buddied up beautifully with a pearly-white box clutch and an oversized necklace. The whole outfit was a sartorial win, and although each of the pieces was quite simple, when worn together, they really wowed.

I love the whole look, but it’s Helen’s wide leg pants that really caught my eye. The exaggerated shape had a modern feel while flattering Helen's figure, and they will make a wise addition to any autumn capsule wardrobe.

Shop Helen's look

Shop more wide leg pants

Top to toe white might seem a little daunting, but it's far more wearable than you might expect. Mixing different fabrics and textures in one outfit, like Helen, will make things interesting, and adding in shiny jewels will keep it feeling glam. You can break up the color a little too - simply use printed accessories to inject just a hint of pattern into your ensemble.

Color drenching not for you? Try teaming your fresh white pants with other neutrals like beige or tan. This will have a similarly fresh and sharp vibe but might feel a little more wearable for anybody unsure about single-hued outfits.

While change is sometimes good, other times it’s best to leave things alone. And when it comes to James Bond, Dame Helen Mirren has made her thoughts clear - Bond is better as a man.

"I’m such a feminist," the Oscar winner told Saga Magazine, "But you can’t have a woman. It just doesn’t work. James Bond has to be James Bond, otherwise it becomes something else."

Dame Helen’s comments weren’t out of the blue. She was speaking with the magazine while promoting her upcoming Netflix film, The Thursday Murder Club, in which she plays a retired spy.

She told the magazine, "So many women have worked in that world. She's a manifestation of a reality, that's for sure" but added that her take on playing a spy is "more realistic but not so much fun as Bond!"

Dame Helen knows a thing or two about taking on a gender-swapped iconic role. In 2010, the Oscar winner starred as Prospero, Shakespeare’s vengeful protagonist from The Tempest for a film adaptation.

Prospero was written as a male, an outcast Duke of Milan, but has since been played by another Hollywood woman, Sigourney Weaver, in her 2024 West End debut.

Still, Dame Helen had some support in her stance on 007 remaining as he is - and this was coming from someone who knows the franchise well.

Her fellow The Thursday Murder Club co-star, Pierce Brosnan, stepped into the suave shoes of Britain’s best spy for four films - GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day.

He shared Helen’s views, adding, "I’m so excited to see the next man come on the stage and to see a whole new exuberance and life for this character."

"I adore the world of James Bond," he continued, "It’s been very good to me. It’s the gift that keeps giving. And I’m just a member of the audience now, sitting back, saying: 'Show us what you’re going to do.'"

Another screen icon familiar with the world of 007 has previously echoed similar sentiments.

Halle Berry, who starred in Die Another Day alongside Pierce, told a Cannes Film Festival press conference in May, "In 2025, it’s nice to say, 'Oh, she should be a woman'. But I don’t really know if I think that’s the right thing to do."

The rumour mill about who could be the next Bond - replacing Daniel Craig, who wrapped up his 15-year tenure with 2021's No Time to Die - has been in overdrive ever since stepsiblings Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson sold the rights to Bond for a reported $1BN to Amazon. Bond’s film rights had previously been with the Broccoli family for over 60 years.

Not much is known about Amazon’s first foray into 007, but it’s been reported that Denis Villeneuve (Dune) is set to direct, with the creator of Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight, writing the script.

As for who could play Bond? Everyone from Aaron Taylor-Johnson to Henry Cavill and Tom Holland have been floated.

While we wait for that news, fans can tune in to see former 007, Pierce Brosnan, alongside Dame Helen Mirren, Celia Imrie, and David Tenant in The Thursday Murder Club, releasing on 22 August on Netflix.

The film is based on the debut novel from Richard Osman, about a group of pensioners who try to solve the mystery of the murder of a property developer in their retirement village.

Dame Helen Mirren celebrates her 80th birthday this weekend, and it's making us want to know everything she wears, uses and does. She looks amazing!

Let's face it, there are very few among us who would say they find heels particularly comfortable. But somehow Helen always wears hers on the red carpet, and makes it look so easy. Wondering what her secret is? It's with a little bit of help from a clever brand called Sole Bliss.

Lisa Kay is the brains behind the brand, which launched in 2017 with the aim of making comfortable sandals and shoes that cater to wide feet and bunions, as well as issues like Plantar Fasciitis and flat feet. Since then, Sole Bliss shoes have been worn and loved by Dame Mary Berry, Dame Joanna Lumley, Queen Camilla, Twiggy, Prue Leith and Oprah Winfrey. But having been spotted in Sole Bliss designs an estimated 30 times - including for three consecutive years at the Cannes Film Festival - I think it's safe to say Dame Helen is their number one fan.

The actress is quoted as saying: "enormous platform pleasers have always been my hidden weapon on red carpets: they give you six inches of height on your legs".

At 5'4", her surprising style secret to standing tall is these leg-lengthening platforms. Supposedly, she used to hunt for them in stripper stores on Hollywood Boulevard, but has since discovered British brand Sole Bliss.

It's not just the platforms Helen has fallen head over heels for - she's also worn court shoes and the bestselling star print trainers by Sole Bliss.

If you're searching for comfortable wedding guest shoes, some silver platform heels like Helen's will not only work with any colour palette, they'll give you a big boost in confidence.

Even the best wedding guest dresses aren’t complete without some stand-out accessories. They can make all the difference, taking an outfit to a whole new level of elegance.

This is particularly important when there’s a smarter dress code and who better to show us how to accessorise our occasionwear than Dame Helen Mirren. Headbands are her go-tos for everything from film premieres to photocalls and often coordinates them to her gowns.

Earlier this month she attended the Cartier VIP view at the V&A Museum wearing a ruby red midi dress with a matching satin headband. You can style hair accessories like this in a number of ways, though Helen wore the headband pushed back behind her ears.

Shop Stunning Headbands

This feels very neat and timeless and tends to be Helen’s preferred way of wearing the various headbands in her collection. Over the years she’s proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they work for any length of hair too.

When her hair is shorter, as it is right now, the Hollywood icon likes wearing her headbands with straight hair. A few years ago when she had longer tresses, Helen regularly styled them with loose waves instead, but both approaches looked gorgeous.

There’s something naturally quite regal about a headband and whether you go for an embellished design, or something plainer with a luxurious fabric like velvet or satin, they feel quite elevated. It’s no surprise, then, that Helen shares her love of headbands with the Royal Family.

We’ve seen the Princess of Wales, Zara Tindall, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice stepping out in headbands at so many different events. Since becoming Princess of Wales in 2022, Kate has moved towards wearing hats for a more formal edge, but the others remain headband fans.

Just days ago, Princess Beatrice wore the Gold Lace Halo headband by Justine Bradley-Hill Millinery to the royals’ traditional Easter Sunday church service at Windsor Castle.

Meanwhile, Helen Mirren wore an emerald green knotted headband to a reception at Highgrove House in March, styled with a floor length green gown. These smart outfits were very different, but the headbands tied in perfectly.

If you already have an outfit in mind for an upcoming wedding or another big event, then it’s worth considering adding a headband to finish off your look in style. We’d recommend following in Helen and the royals’ footsteps and choosing one that complements your clothing.

Alternatively, go for metallic or neutral hues like black, white or navy. They work with so many colours and so your headband can be re-worn time and time again with different pieces, from your best jumpsuits to a more low-key midi dress.

Don’t feel you have to style your hair a different way to accommodate this accessory either. The likes of Helen Mirren, Zara and Kate have shown that it’s far chicer to keep your hairstyle minimal when you’re wearing a statement headband.

Helen Mirren is the pro-ageing icon of her generation, and her refreshing approach to beauty and skincare routines reflect her principles perfectly.

We adore Helen Mirren for being the voice of positive ageing, and using her platform to advocate for an overhaul of the impossible beauty standards imposed on women.

The acting legend is enjoying every moment of growing old, and has no time for brooding over the effects of advancing years on her body - the 12-minute workout she swears by and her straightforward, easy chic hairstyles, encompass the no-nonsense attitude the star has to her appearance.

Helen's thoughts around beauty and skincare routines are no different - in fact, she's prefer to drop the word 'beauty' from how she cares for her skin. "My so-called beauty regime, I really wish we could find another word for it because it doesn't necessarily make you look beautiful, but it makes you feel good," she explained to Elle.

The actress added, "My feel-good routine, then, is that I always I love applying a serum - you can suddenly feel your skin just freshen up. I don't have any particular process; I grab whatever's in front of me but I do always put on a moisturiser to wake up my skin."

Shop Helen Mirren's Skincare Staples

Helen recalls wearing makeup every day during lockdown, but not to please anyone, simply for her own enjoyment. "Throughout COVID I put my make-up on every day, even though nobody was going to see me except me and my husband and my husband couldn't give a t*ss whether I have make-up on or not," she muses.

The actress continued, "He didn't even notice, really. But I would love the process of playing around and experimenting with make-up," proving that enjoying makeup and caring for your appearance can still go hand-in-hand with pro-ageing and acceptance - Helen has exactly the right balance where this is concerned.

The star also spoke about the rise of teenagers and young people using beauty products their young skin doesn't need, simply because they're so heavily influenced by social media. However, she understands why they're obsessing over their skin, but wishes there could be a narrative change that would see this practice come to an end.

"We all do really silly things when we're young - and it's a silly thing," she said of it, adding, "I hope there's nothing in those skincare products that's actually going to harm them, but we've all done something similar when we were young. They will grow up; they will grow older, if they're lucky. And then they will discover a whole new world."

Dame Helen Mirren’s attitude to ageing couldn’t be more refreshing as she believes that her horizons have "broadened" and that she feels her age in the "fullest possible sense".

Much as we might not like to admit it, the prospect of ageing can be a somewhat complex one for some people, especially as society often seems to place pressure on us to be and look a certain way as we get older. However, if you’re ever in need of some positive affirmations about the ageing process you can always rely on the iconic Dame Helen Mirren to deliver them. The Hollywood icon embraces getting older in the most inspirational way and previously expressed her belief that we should all be "celebrating" this natural life process.

Speaking to Express.co.uk in January last year Helen described the phrase anti-ageing as "awful" and reflected that as you grow up you get to not only know yourself better, but accept and appreciate who you really are in a different way.

"It’s great to get older – it’s fantastic. You enjoy who you are, you’ve realised who you are. We should be celebrating it," the actor shared. "My mum always told me to never worry about getting older. She said, ‘Don’t worry, when you get to being 40 you don’t want to be 20 again, you’ll have gained so much more’. And it’s absolutely true all throughout life - you do lose things, but you gain so much more."

Displaying utter pragmatism, Helen remarked upon the fact that ultimately you "die young or you get old" and declared that she is "far too interested in life" to die young. Her experiences, knowledge and understanding have only increased throughout her life and the development of technology is something she’s particularly thrilled she’s got to enjoy.

"Getting older means for me, my horizons ­broadened. Every day my horizons get wider. I learn more, I have more experience. I love watching the world change, I love GPS. I love witnessing the changes in the world, it’s so exciting," she said.

As with anything, ageing isn’t without certain downsides and Helen expressed how "heartbreaking" it is to grow older, seeing war and destruction becoming a "constant". It’s then that you realise that these patterns of human behaviour don’t appear to be going anywhere, anytime soon. Nevertheless, the 79-year-old considers ageing to be an "endless adventure".

As Helen put it, "I’m not growing old, I’m growing up. I’m learning more about life and how to live it. I feel the age that I am. With all the curiosity, knowledge and fear I have about life. I feel my age but in the fullest possible sense."

Helen Mirren might be best known for her acting prowess but since 2014 she’s also been a brand ambassador for L’Oreal Paris. In her interview with Express she credited L’Oreal with disposing of the term ‘anti-ageing’ in their campaigns and at the 2024 L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Honoree celebration last year she spoke to People about what a lovely "surprise" it was to be asked to be an ambassador a decade earlier. In her view, it reflects a change in attitudes and this is something we can all admire.

"When [the opportunity] arrived on my doorstep, it was a great surprise because I was 70, actually," she shared. "And that doesn't often happen, but it was very much a mark of the change in attitudes, the change in time, the kinds of advances that women had made over the years. So I was surprised. I was very excited and honored and pleased as well."

With an acting career spanning six decades, having got her first big theatre break in the sixties and picking up an Oscar, an Emmy and a Tony since award then, Dame Helen Mirren is an icon. And as a regular feature on the red carpets of award ceremonies, major premieres and events like the Cannes Film Festival, as well as her role as a L’Oréal Paris ambassador, she is no stranger to getting glam.

Though healthy, glowing skin that's been warmed with the best blusher is probably the closest thing to her signature makeup look, Dame Helen is also not afraid to experiment with her hair and makeup choices—remember that viral blue hair moment?

We take a look back on some of her best hair and makeup looks from over the years.

Helen Mirren's best beauty looks from over the years

Inner corner sparkle and flushed cheeks

We love everything about this makeup look – the sparkly shadow at the inner corner of the eyes, the healthy flush of the best blusher and the rosy pink lipstick, not to mention the layered short bob hairstyle. Love it as much as we do? We've popped some suggestions for recreating it below.

Copy the look...

The long bob and red lip

Dame Helen Mirren looks gorgeous with everything from super short to ultra long hair, and we love this sharp, slightly asymmetric long bob on her. Paired with one of the best red lipsticks, it made for a winning look at the 2024 Annual American Cinematheque Awards.

Neutral pink tones

We love the cohesion of the matching fresh neutral pink cheeks and lipstick here, which Helen wore to the Madres Paralelas red carpet at the 2021 Venice International Film Festival.

Slicked back curved under bob

We love the chic and striking look of this swept back and ultra curved under bob, paired with fresh and glowy cheeks, shimmery pink lipstick and inner eye corner sparkle – seen on the Cannes 2024 red carpet.

Multi-tonal blue hair

We love the mermaid vibes of the aforementioned viral blue hair moment, which Helen stepped out with at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival – a look that was achieved with the help of the L'Oréal Paris Colorista Spray.

The quiffed updo

Feeling like a nod to one of the most popular '80s hairstyles, we're real fans of this quiffed updo, which Dame Helen wore to the Monte-Carlo Gala For Planetary Health in 2020.

Bronzed radiance

A healthy dose of bronzer is undoubtedly behind this sunkissed look Helen wore to the London screening of Golda in 2023, paired with a soft smokey eye and coral lip.

Hollywood glam

Serving serious Breakfast At Tiffany's with this high updo, pictured around 1995, this red lipstick look oozes Hollywood glamour. And just check out those diamonds!

The voluminous bun

One of our favourite hair up hairstyles, the humble bun works for an off-duty look or on the red carpet – as Helen perfectly demonstrated for the London screening of Shazam! Fury of the Gods in 2023.

The mega eyeliner wing

One of our favourite liquid eyeliner looks, this statement wing is both intense and elegant. Helen opted for this dramatic look at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for the screening of Mother And Son (Un Petit Frère).

Super sheeny pink lipstick

This Golden Globes hair and makeup look ticks a lot of boxes – we love the sweeping side parting and slicked down updo, the sweep of eyeliner and the ultra shiny pink lip.

The rounded bob

Another strong case for the power of a well-cut bob, we love the blunt, curved ends of this hairstyle on Helen Mirren – and the bold pink-red lipstick too, naturally.

S-shaped waves

These S-shaped waves are sheer perfection, and we love the inclusion of a headband with this lengthy style. Helen paired her waves with soft smokey eye makeup and a deep, muted pink lipstick for the LA premiere of Shazam! Fury Of The Gods in 2023.

The choppy, feathered bob

Variations of fringe hairstyles will always be on trend and we're big fans of the feathered version alongside Helen's layered bob here – as seen at the 2017 Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences' Annual Governors Awards.

The undone updo

We're big fans of this slightly wispy, undone look for a lived-in, chic vibe. Helen stepped out with this look for the Annette screening at Cannes 2021.

Rose gold hair

Yet another colourful hair move, paired with a classic swept-back short bob, Dame Helen's pink hair look was one of the most memorable beauty looks from the 2019 Cannes Film Festival red carpet.

Ultra long hair with a wispy fringe

A real throwback – and proof that Helen has always suited longer hair – we love the subtly wispy fringe here in this picture of the star from around 1970. A classic '70s hairstyle.

The short rounded bob

We love this shorter bob and its rounded silhouette, seen at Cannes 2018. This is another example of what seems to be one of Dame Helen's go-to makeup looks – sheeny pink lip, flushed cheeks and a highlighted inner corner of the eye – finished off with tightlined eyes.

The feathered long bob

Falling somewhere between a long bob and a shag haircut, we love the Farrah Fawcett-esque feathering of Dame Helen's hair here – as seen at the AARP's Annual Movies For Grownups Awards in 2018.

The messy bun

Ah, the messy bun. A failsafe look for any occasion, including a red carpet. We love Helen's addition of a headband to elevate this hairstyle even further, as seen at the 2022 SAG Awards.

Coral tones

Matching your lipstick and blusher shades is an easy way to create a pulled together makeup look without much effort; Helen wore this coral ensemble to the LA premiere of the HBO series Catherine The Great in 2019, paired with a swept back voluminous updo.

Glittery eyes and sheeny lips

Look closely and you'll see that Helen's liquid liner is adorned with multidimensional glitter for her appearance on the runway during the Le Défilé L'Oréal Paris show during Paris Fashion Week in 2019. This is a great choice of party makeup when you're in need of an easy win.

The fuchsia lip

This look is another strong case for the power of blusher, but it's the bold fuchsia lipstick with its sheeny finish that is the real focal point of this look, which Helen wore to the Warner Bros. Pictures “The Big Picture” Presentation during CinemaCon 2022.

The full fringe and a red lip

A full fringe is something that many people try at least once (we can think of very few celebrities who we've never seen with one) and a look that Dame Helen can seriously pull off – paired here with a bold red lipstick for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar unveiling gala.

The wavy lob

A long bob (AKA "lob") styled with undone waves is a classic, worn here by Dame Helen to The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment Gala in 2023. Proving that beach hair waves can work for any occasion, Dame Helen's 'do is both unfussy and chic.

The curled bob with glossy lips

Lip gloss was big in the noughties, as were tonged curls, so it's no surprise that Helen was a fan of both back in the '00s. Here she is pictured at the 33rd International Emmy Awards Gala all the way back in 2005.

The sleek side parted bob

Perhaps it's intentional, perhaps not, but this short bob is giving us serious roaring twenties vibes. Paired with a soft, smudged eye and peachy pink tones, Dame Helen wore this look to the world premiere of Collateral Beauty in 2016.

Ultra glowy skin

In our opinion, Helen Mirren's complexion always looks glowy and radiant, but especially so here. She wore this healthy bronzed look and offset her hair with a hot pink headband during the Ora! Film Festival in 2023.

Ultra defined eyes

Liner doesn't have to be crisp and precise to define the eyes; a little smudged pencil can work wonders for drawing attention to them, too – as seen here on Helen during the European premiere of Collateral Beauty in 2016. Finish with a bit of the best volumising mascara and you're good to go.

Classic smokey eye

Incorporating grey tones, this feels like a classic take on a soft smokey eye, which Helen Mirren opted for on the red carpet of the SAG Awards back in 2005.

Pastel pink blush and lip

Proving again that pairing your blusher and lipstick is always a good idea, Helen opted for a soft pastel or petal pink for both when she attended the Telluride Film Festival in 2021.

The berry lip

With her sweeping side fringe perfectly offsetting her short bob, it's the berry lipstick shade that is the focal point of Dame Helen's look here – as seen at the Golden Globes in 2020.

While it can be challenging to find different ways to style shorter length locks, Helen Mirren just proved the limitless options for styling a bob with her ultra-sleek slicked back look - so, of course, we’re following suit...

We certainly haven’t been strapped for hair inspiration this year, with a variety of hairstyles earning a place on the list of 2024 hair trends - from side-swept hair to hourglass layers. But, the one timeless hairstyle topping all the trending lists, and that has been spotted on many red carpets, is the classic bob. With summer right around the corner, the actress just debuted a quick yet effortlessly chic way to style your cut for any occasion.

So, if you’ve made the big chop (or perhaps you’re toying with the idea) and you’re looking for inspiration to add to your styling rotation, this is why you should consider recreating Helen Mirren’s latest hairstyle…

Why Helen Mirren’s slicked-back bob is a must-try hairstyle for any dressy event

Stepping onto the red carpet of the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival on 24th May 2024, the actress paired a striking violet gown with a rosy satin lip and a polished slicked-back bob - a standout combination.

The refined hairstyle in question was delicately scraped back and completed with inward curls that sat perfectly at the nape of her neck, offering a truly elegant feel to the look. Falling somewhere between classic and contemporary, it’s ideal for any dressy occasion or simply as a chic fuss-free hairstyle day-to-day.

The best part about the look? Surprisingly, it can be easily recreated with just a few staple products needed in your haircare kit…

How to recreate Helen Mirren's sleek hairstyle

The prep time is minimal, as a hairstyle like this would benefit from not having freshly washed hair in order to give it more grip when styling, so it should only take a matter of minutes to execute. However, you can pop a hydrating oil - we would recommend this Hair Oil from OUAI - through your hair before you get started.

Mirren's unobvious parting means you can sweep your locks back in whichever way you choose to. Simply run a glossy serum or gel through your hair, before using your styling brush to slick each strand of hair to the back of your neck. Once in position, use a barrelled wand to curl the ends of your lock inwards for the bouncy, red carpet-ready look. Finally, secure the look in place with a long-lasting, high-shine finishing spray, like the Charles Worthington ShinePlex glossing mist, and you're ready to head out of the door!

There's nothing like a Dame - and when it comes to Helen Mirren, that rings even more true. 

We have been enamoured with her best style moments over the past 55 years, taking tips on how to dress regally but also playing with fashion. And when we aren't caught up in her stunning style or bold hair choices, she's continuing to deliver some of the best work in the likes of Yellowstone 1923 (plus her surprise involvement in blockbusters like Barbie). 

If you love Helen Mirren, you might be fascinated by some of these lesser-known facts about her life and career.

32 interesting facts about Helen Mirren

She’s used the same hairspray all her life

Proving that, sometimes, a classic is a classic for a reason, Helen Mirren has avoided getting caught in the trap of paying for more expensive brands or trends and has stayed true to L'Oréal's timeless Elnett hairspray for most of her life. 

She told the Daily Mail in 2022, "Elnett hairspray has also been with me my whole life and every hairdresser says they use it because it’s still the best. Even the can is rather old-fashioned with that 50s-style image of a woman." 

That's one celebrity hair trick we can get on board with. 

Helen Mirren wasn’t the name given to her at birth

Dame Helen's given name at birth definitely wouldn’t fit on a movie poster. 

The actress we now know as Helen Mirren was born Ilyena Lydia Vasilievna Mironova. In 1951, her father, Vasily Petrovich Mironoff, changed the family name to Mirren by deed poll to Anglicise it.

She has Russian aristocracy in her roots

Helen's family traces back to Russian nobility. 

Her grandfather, Pyotr Vasilievich Mironov, owned a family estate near the area now known as Gagarin. His mother, Helen's great-grandmother, was Countess Lydia Andreevna Kamenskaya, an aristocrat and a descendant of Count Mikhail Fedotovich Kamensky, a prominent Russian general in the Napoleonic Wars.

Her early acting nickname was Little Mother Russia – a nod to her ancestry.

She’s the queen of playing queens

Dame Helen has played a queen seven times on screen (and even a few times on the stage), and is the only actress who has portrayed both Elizabeth I and the late Queen Elizabeth II.

She has played Queen Elizabeth I in 2005's Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth II in 2006's The Queen, the fictional Snow Queen in 1995's The Snow Queen, Queen Charlotte in 1994's The Madness of King George, Roman empress Caesonia in 1979's Caligula, the Egyptian Queen in 1998's The Prince of Egypt and Catherine the Great in 2019's Catherine the Great.

She’s always had the gift of the gab

Helen Mirren charms audiences the world over when she appears on screen, and it’s a skill she learnt from her younger years. 

She worked as a hustler at a theme park in Southend, Essex, using her verbal charms to draw in punters.

Throughout the early 60s, she spent many days pulling in the punters at the Kursaal amusement complex on the seafront, using her skills to encourage people to go on the rides.

She's not the only famous one in her family

Tania Mallet was an English actress and model, best known for playing Tilly Masterson in the James Bond film Goldfinger. Tania was also Helen Mirren's first cousin, sharing roots with their Russian grandfather. 

Helen described her cousin in her autobiography as "impossibly beautiful and kind" and "a loyal and generous person" who used her earnings from modelling to pay for her brother's education and financially support her mother. 

She was once voted the Naturist of the Year

She has no problem stripping off, and Calendar Girls director Nigel Cole even had to tell her to put her robe back on after a naked scene. this makes sense, since she is quoted as being a naturist, telling the Radio Times "I'm a naturist at heart. I love being on beaches where everyone is naked. Ugly people, beautiful people, old people, whatever. It's so unisexual and so liberating." 

In 2004, she was named Naturist of the Year by British Naturism.

Accepting the honour, she said, "Many thanks to British Naturism for this great honour. I do believe in naturism and am my happiest on a nude beach with people of all ages and races!"

She swears by a 12-minute exercise

In 2014, Helen revealed to a press junket that she stays in shape by following a 12-minute Royal Canadian Air Force exercise plan from the 1950s. 

The XBX workout for women consists of 10 basic exercises -
30 seconds of toe touching/warm-up
30 seconds of knee raises
30 seconds of arm circling
30 seconds of partial sit-ups
2 minutes of chest and leg raises
1 minute of side leg raises
2 minutes of push-ups from a kneeling position
1 minute of leg lifts
3 minutes of running and hopping.

Her Parkinson appearance was one of the most controversial

Chat show legend Michael Parkinson sitting down with rising talent Helen Mirren in 1975 should have been a meeting of entertainment titans. 

However, Dame Helen described the incident as "enraging" to BUST magazine and many still condemn the interview as sexist, after the broadcaster called her "sluttishly erotic" and suggested her breasts might detract from her career. 

At the time, Helen retorted, "I can’t think that can necessarily be true. I mean, what a crummy performance if people are obsessed with the size of your bosom or anything else."

Helen revisited the interview in 2023, softening her reaction somewhat. Speaking to Radio Times, Dame Helen recalled the awkward exchange adding, "I didn’t feel sorry for Parky, but then in a way I did because in lots of ways he was right. My physicality did get in the way of me being taken seriously as a classical actress." 

She also acknowledged that "times change", adding, "Yes, yes they really do. And fast. And we can only kick down the patriarchy one brick at a time."

She swears by castor oil

Considering she's still walking runways well into her 70s and looking radiant as ever, there's no wonder people are curious as to the actress's secrets. 

Well, it turns out, she's a big fan of a natural product which can be bought from most supermarkets or food stores for a very low price tag. Dame Helen is a huge advocate for using castor oil pretty much everywhere - even her eyelashes. 

"I use a little bit in my hair - very, very little. I use it on my fingernails. I use it on my skin," Helen told Vogue India.

"Castor oil’s amazing. A tiny bit on your hair gives it a little shine, a little separation. [I use it on my] eyebrows, eyelashes, fingernails - just rub it in." 

She’s just one award away from an EGOT

The legendary EGOT - meaning someone has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony - has only been claimed by 24 people. 

Dame Helen is one award away - she needs a Grammy. 

She won the Oscar for The Queen, five Emmys and a Tony for The Audience, where she once again played Queen Elizabeth II. 

Many actors can win a Grammy for recording an audiobook, so Helen won't have to drop an album to be in with a chance of joining the elite club. 

She's one of less than 20 actresses in history to win the Triple Crown of Acting

The Triple Crown of Acting is a term used in the American entertainment industry to describe actors who have won a competitive Academy Award, Emmy Award, and Tony Award in the acting categories. 

Only 24 people, 15 women and nine men have achieved the Triple Crown.

Living winners of the Triple Crown of Acting are Rita Moreno, Jeremy Irons, Vanessa Redgrave, Maggie Smith, Frances McDormand, Jessica Lange, and Viola Davis.

She's a Dame - but she actually rejected her first honour

Helen Mirren was awarded the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to drama.

Of course, three years later, she’d go on to play the late Queen Elizabeth in the movie, The Queen.

Interestingly, Dame Helen's opinions towards the monarchy might have changed over time, as she rejected the offer of a CBE in 1996. 

She is the third person in history to achieve an awards double

A trend with Dame Helen is either matching or breaking incredibly prestigious records. 

One such achievement for her acting includes becoming the third person, after Sigourney Weaver and Joan Plowright, to win two Golden Globes for acting in the same year. 

The characters she played were both Queens of England, Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II. One of the awards was for film and the other was for television. 

She has the second-largest Best Actress award sweep in history

She holds the record for the second-largest Best Actress award sweep, achieving an incredible 40 wins for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in 2006's The Queen. 

To date, the only actress to do better is Cate Blanchett, who landed an impressive 41 wins for her performance as the fallen socialite Jasmine French in Woody Allen's 2013 film, Blue Jasmine.

She’s a firm atheist

In 1990, Helen stated in an interview that she is an atheist. 

In the August 2011 issue of Esquire magazine, the Prime Suspect star once again explored the topic of religion and faith. 

She said, "I am quite spiritual. I believed in fairies when I was a child. I still do sort of believe in the fairies. And the leprechauns. But I don't believe in God."

Her first major film role was in 1969

Aged 24, Helen Mirren starred in the comedy, Age of Consent. 

Before that, she had been busy making a name for herself on the London stages, working with the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company. 

Despite staying active since her breakthrough in 1969, Dame Helen's film choices were relatively small and not big box office draws for decades. Her mainstream breakthrough came with huge films like 1980's The Long Good Friday and 1981's Excalibur.

She credits one role with changing her life

For many people, Helen Mirren came to their attention through her work on Prime Suspect, where she played DCI Jane Tennison. 

From 1991 to 2006, Helen played the role and won countless awards. 

Speaking about the role, she told the Daily Mail in 2019, "When Lynda La Plante came up with DCI Jane Tennison for the television series Prime Suspect, that part changed me and changed my life.

"It was the first time I played a strong, brilliant woman who was made up of dark and light and who was driven and unapologetic. She wasn't attached to any man. I adored her. And more than that, I adored that we were bringing this woman out into the world."

Helen Mirren didn’t think she’d ever get married

After being together for 12 years,  American film director and former president of the Directors Guild of America Taylor Hackford and Helen Mirren decided to tie the knot in 1997. 

Helen was 52 years old at the time, and being a wife wasn't high on her priority list. 

She spoke to AARP The Magazine about marriage in 2016 saying, "I always said I have nothing against marriage, it just wasn't to my taste, like turnips. It took me a very long time to come around to acquiring the taste. I just had to meet the right turnip."

She chose not to have children

"I love children, they are so funny and sweet, but I never wanted my own," Helen Mirren has said about why she chose not to start her own family.

She didn’t regret her choice. "I was always too engaged in my life as an actress. It was never an absolute conscious decision, it was just, ’Oh, maybe next year, maybe next year,’ until, really, there was no next year," she told ABC's taping of Popcorn With Peter Travers.

Helen enjoyed a good relationship with her husband's children from his first two marriages, though. 

She found herself sobbing over the 'loss' of her potential family because of a film

Dame Helen made the empowered choice to focus on her career instead of having children of her own. 

And while she's talked about this several times, repeating that she has no regrets, she also told The Mirror once that watching a film caused her to sob over the realisation she'd never experience being a parent. 

She told the publication, "When I watched the movie, Parenthood, I sobbed for about 20 minutes. I realised I would never experience that, and for about 20 minutes, I sobbed for the loss of that and the fact that I never experienced it."

She tragically lost her stepson in 2022

Helen Mirren and her husband released a joint statement after his son, Rio Hackford, died on April 14, 2022. 

Rio was known for his roles in films like Raising Helen and Fred Claus, plus the Disney+ drama, Pam & Tommy.

Rio’s cause of death was uveal melanoma, a rare and aggressive eye cancer. After his death, Helen and her husband urged people to get tested, writing in a heartfelt statement to People, "We would beg everyone reading this to get their eyes tested at least once a year, which might save their loved ones from this cancer."

Helen Mirren is a US citizen

For many, she's the quintessential British actress. After all, she's played the late Queen Elizabeth II multiple times on stage and screen. 

So it might be surprising to find out Dame Helen is actually a US citizen. She officially became a citizen of the States in 2017, having been married to her American-born husband since 1997. 

Helen voted in her first US election in 2020.

She had a past, years-long relationship with Liam Neeson

The gruff, tough Liam Neeson - known for his action movies like Taken - might seem like a strange fit for a woman who has played Queen Elizabeth multiple times, but Liam and Helen enjoyed a courtship which lasted years after meeting on the set of 1981's Excalibur. 

For an AARP The Magazine cover story in 2022, Helen told the outlet, "We were not meant to be together in that way, but we loved each other very, very much."

Liam has said of Helen, "I should be so lucky and be honoured to have spent three or four years with that lady, She's something else."

Despite changing her mind about marriage, she’s still a realist

Helen revealed she never really grew up dreaming about the whole white wedding but she did go on to marry long-term partner Taylor Hackford in 1997. Only, it might not have been driven entirely by romance. 

She revealed, "I couldn’t see the point until a financial adviser told me how much money we would be saving. I was on board immediately."

"As you get older, you start thinking about wills and planning for your estate. We realised it was going to be so much clearer if we got married," she told Hello!

She loves Beyonce - and she inspired her to dance more

Helen lit up the 2022 Cannes Red Carpet, dancing with Andie MacDowell in front of the flashing bulbs. And we might actually have Beyoncé to thank for Helen's love for letting her hair down and dancing. 

She told Hello! magazine in the past, "I’m a huge fan of Beyoncé and I do love to twerk. I love dance. I am mesmerised by it."

"It's unbelievable how they do it. I always like it when a new dance arrives on the scene."

She has a wild side, including getting drunk tattoos

Often considered regal and poised, Dame Helen also knows how to cut loose. 

She once revealed a drunken act of rebellion from her youth involved getting a tattoo on her left hand.

The ink has a pattern of interlocking Vs. While the actress has joked that it was a drunken act, she later gave the tattoo a deeper meaning, suggesting it means to "love thy neighbour," acting as a reminder of the importance of tolerance.

She's become an icon for her bold hairstyles

From dying it pink and blue to match her red carpet looks to growing it long, Helen Mirren is leading the charge for women to have more freedom with their hairstyles at all ages. 

On growing it long, she described her new hair look as "pretty cool" and explained that she decided to grow it long in the Covid lockdowns and "couldn’t be bothered to cut it."

Speaking on Lorraine, she said, "You’re not supposed to have longer hair after a certain age. But during Covid, I started growing my hair and I hadn’t actually had long hair since I was in my 20s. And it sort of grew and grew and grew, and I couldn’t be bothered to cut it, basically"

Her favourite perfume is Hermès Un Jardin en Méditerranée

Described by the brand as the first in the Parfums-Jardins collection, Helen's favourite scent was created in 2003. 

Un Jardin en Méditerranée eau de toilette evokes a walk through a secret Tunisian garden overflowing with trees and flowers.

She told You magazine about her love of the fragrance, saying, "I love Hermès Un Jardin en Méditerranée. There’s a great book called The Emperor of Scent by Chandler Burr (former scent critic of The New York Times). I read about it being his favourite perfume so I went out and bought it ‒ and it is gorgeous!"

She has some surprisingly simple skincare tips

Some of Dame Helen’s best tips when it comes to her now legendary looks? 

"I love make-up and I’m probably at my happiest sitting putting it on. But one of my rules is: put it on, then take half of it off," she once said in an interview with You Magazine.

She's also been vocal about her love for modern makeup artistry, telling Bazaar, "I never tell a make-up artist what to do. I say, 'Do what you like! Do what you think is the right thing to do.' Make-up artists are creative, they’re artists, and I love to see what someone else might make of my face,"

Another tip? "Open your refrigerator and pop your face in for 30 seconds after doing your make-up – to cool and set it."

She 'didn't smile' until her thirties

When it comes to self-confidence, Dame Helen seems to have it in spades, rocking blue hair on the red carpets and playing with fashion fearlessly. 

But this is something she has learnt with age, and when she was younger, she struggled with self-esteem.

"It’s something I have to handle on almost a daily basis," the Oscar-winning actress revealed on the Victoria Derbyshire Show on BBC Two.

"It’s more exacerbated when you’re younger because you don’t quite know what your place in the world is going to be, but I think those moments certainly don’t go away, as far as I’m concerned, into your adulthood.

"It was only actually in my mid-thirties that I learnt to smile. I couldn’t smile before that – I thought I looked stupid when I smiled."

She shared her tips for a life well lived

Dame Helen shared her tips for living your best life in an interview with Vogue, and her words are something to live by. 

She told the fashion magazine, "Don’t feel paralysed by your own insecurities and don’t be too polite or apologetic in life. I mean, I hope I am a very polite person, I hate rudeness, but I don’t mean that.

"Chat to people and be as open as possible. It’s a very good idea, occasionally, to look at the world as a child or foreigner and witness your own environment. Imagine you’re seeing it for the very first time and try and experience the magic in it – because there is magic in every environment. All it needs is to be seen with fresh eyes,"