CENTRE STAGE

Dame Helen Mirren on being a rule-breaker and learning how to handle the fear

Age is but a number, according to Oscar-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren, who wasn’t pulling any punches discussing ageism and gender inequality in London last week.

“Whether you’re 25, 45 or 85, you look great for who you are, not for how old you are,” the star of The Queen said at a L’Oréal Paris event with experts and panellists including TV chef Andi Oliver and make-up artist Val Garland.

At 78, Dame Helen is being true to her word, becoming a role model for older women and refusing to conform to society’s expectations about what she should wear or how she should look.

She’s now in her tenth year as an ambassador for beauty brand L’Oréal Paris and is using her platform to speak out about the double standards women face. We caught up with her to find out more…

Dame Helen, how would you like to change society’s view of growing older?

“I say celebrate it; don’t fight it. You die young or you get old and I don’t want to die young. I’m too interested in life. It’s wonderful, so celebrate that and enjoy it.”

As an actress, have you ever felt judged for your age rather than your ability?

“In my industry, there is an uncomfortable moment when you realise: ‘Oh, they didn’t want me because I was good, they wanted me because I was young.’ It hits you around your mid-30s. My mid-30s was over 30 years ago and it was a whole different attitude and understanding in those days. That was a pretty awful moment, actually, but I don’t think that’s the case any more. Life has changed considerably, for all kinds of reasons.”

Do you feel like a pioneer?