Helen Mirren has more than earned her reputation. From the classical stage to the silver screen, she has captivated audiences with her remarkable talent and undeniable presence. With a career spanning over five decades, this iconic British actress earned her a place as a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. She is a captivating figure whose bold red carpet looks turn heads. Her latest fashion statement, however, is a “radical” hairstyle that defies ageist norms.
A Hollywood legend
Mirren’s acting career is a testament to her exceptional range and versatility. She began her journey on the stage, honing her craft in classical theater productions and earning critical acclaim for her portrayals of Shakespearean heroines. Her success saw her transition seamlessly to the big screen, where she showcased her remarkable talent in diverse roles, everything from the seductive temptress in The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover to the regal Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen.
For the latter, she won an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe. She also saw significant success with her role as Detective Jane Tennison in the BBC series Prime Suspect for which she won three consecutive BAFTA TV awards. Although she has been acting since the 1960s, she is nowhere near done. In 2021 she played the villain in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and in 2023 she played the title role in the biopic Golda. Ever a surprise, she also took a 2022 role in a Kendrick Lamar music video.
Her ‘radical’ hair
Always one for bold fashion statements, Mirren made another one at the February 2023 red carpet premiere of Golda when she showed off her long silver locks. This might not seem like anything too wild, but she spoke about her decision in an interview 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 (…) I couldn’t be bothered to cut it, basically.”
She continued, “And then I thought, do you know what, it’s pretty cool, I think I’ll stick with it for a little while. It will come off eventually. But I’m kind of enjoying it, it’s quite radical.” What may have started as a COVID haircut has actually turned out to be a “pretty cool” way to defy ageist norms. This really doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as Mirren has been vocal about aging gracefully, as have many other actresses like Jamie Lee Curtis.
Thoughts on aging
In the same interview, she touched on her thoughts again, saying that after 60, “Life doesn’t stop, creativity doesn’t stop, passion doesn’t stop, and energy doesn’t stop, unless you decide to stop it.” She has made some other poignant statements about aging as well. In a People interview, she said, “Getting older. It happens. Other people call it growing older, but I call it growing up. And one of the advantages is that you literally get to be wiser. Life is a constant process of learning.”
In another interview, she slapped back at the very concept of ‘anti-aging’ because it’s something that just happens: “It’s a part of the human condition. So to talk about ‘anti-aging’ is like saying ‘anti-human,’ ‘anti-real,’ ‘anti-wisdom,’ ‘anti-experience,’ and so on, you know?”
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Needless to say, this Dame will be enjoying her long hair, regardless of what others think.