Helen Mirren reveals her refreshing approach to death

When it comes to offering up sage life advice, there aren't many people who are better at it than Helen Mirren.

The 72-year-old has lived a long and exciting life, jetting around the world and meeting all kinds of people in her career as an actress.

But although the actress is enjoying a fulfilling life, she has revealed that she's readily accepted death.

Speaking to the i magazine in a new interview, Helen revealed that she's already confronted death, being in the 'latter part' of her life.

She confessed, "We are all headed in that direction, sorry to tell you! It's gonna happen. So one might as well confront it, and what better time to confront it than the latter part of your life?"

MORE: Helen Mirren reveals the one thing she’s secretly struggled with all her life (and it might surprise you)

Helen also shared that the recent deaths of some loved ones has put the concept into sharp focus.

"As you travel through life, you do realise that you lose friends and colleagues and death becomes a part of your life and that happens at every age. It's not just what happens to older people"

Of course, the last year or so has seen the world lose many a talented performer, including David Bowie, George Michael and Carrie Fisher.

Harry Potter actor Alan Rickman also passed away in 2017 - and Helen in fact starred alongside the acting legend in his final film, Eye in the Sky.

Talking about her late co-star at the time, she said, "He was just such a consumate actor. It's tragic that we don't have more performances from him. Because he would have had a very very long and extraordinary career, if only he was still with us."

However, despite accepting our eventual fact, Helen Mirren revealed to i magazine that she actually pays no mind to the concept of an afterlife.

She confessed, "I have no concept of the afterlife. I'm not into that sort of thing. No. Neither were my parents, actually."

Oh her parent's beliefs, she simply said, “Make the most of [life]” was their motto.

Helen went on to say, "These days, that’s even more possible. People are living longer. People are living healthier lifestyles. There’s much more of an understanding of what helps with longevity and enjoyment of life as long as you can. And that’s to do with diet and above all exercise.”

However, she hilariously added, that "I don't exercise".

Helen Mirren - a woman after our own hearts.

Amy Hunt

Amy Hunt is an experienced digital journalist specialising in homes, interiors and hobbies. She began her career working as the features assistant at woman&home magazine, before moving over to the digital side of the brand where she eventually became the Lifestyle Editor up until January 2022. Amy won the Digital Journalist of the Year award at the AOP Awards in 2019 for her work on womanandhome.com.