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Slug here 22 The The Australian Women’s Weekly Dame Helen Mirren has been grapplingwithidealsofbeautyDame HelenMirren hasbeen andthe approaches 75 shesays it’s timeto break free. Juliet Rieden reports. exasperating ‘sexy’ of hercareer, sincethebeginning tag andasshe beauty beauty MIRREN myth HELEN |

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23 T Helen Mirrenintheircamp, women The cosmeticsgiantknewthatwith attitude toageing. L’Oréal wassmart. most appealingexampleofapositive hired afterasurveyrankedherasthe most ofwomen’s naturallooks. Shewas the roleofcosmeticsistomake older womenastheyreallyareandhow about theimportanceofrepresenting 2014, andrightfromtheget-gotalked asked tobeafaceofL’Oréal backin keen supporterofaslashredlipstick. as yougetolder, thoughshe’s alsoa advises minimal, paredbackmake-up products shouldbesupporting. She Helen saysisexactlywhatbeauty and destroysinnerconfidence, which means hasalwaysheldwomenback to anidealconceptofwhatbeauty shapes thatmakeyou, you. Conforming combination oflines, featuresand character ofyourlooks, thatunique but she’s alsotalkingaboutthe comes apaintedfaceandwardrobe, working lifeincharacterandwitheach really is,” shepleads. ‘character’ – “because that’s whatit the word ‘beauty’ andreplaceitwith of thecosmeticsindustry, wantstoscrap ambassadors boostingthecredibility one ofabevymaturecelebrity on 75-year-old starofstageandscreen, Cover story 24 Helen was thrilled when she was first Helen wasthrilledwhenshefirst Helen, ofcourse, hasspenther The Australian Women’s Weekly powerful tool. The 74-going wisdom isprovingtobea And forDameHelenMirren, is youreallydobecomewiser. he thingaboutgettingolder event in1984. Neeson atan With Liam Mirror. Right: Two-Way 's appearing in Left: Helen |

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overcome “a greatphysicalshyness”, of thatrole”, anddespitehavingto she writes, “I lovedthepowerandpassion Theatre. InherbiographytheFrame inthefamousOld Vic cast inleadrolesandplayedanincisive Youth Theatre. Very quicklyshewas she wasacceptedbytheUK’s National and hercareerbeganinteenswhen sees herselfasprimarilyastageactress, award-winning Hollywoodstar, shestill insecurity andburiedherselfinherwork. and 30-somethingshewasrackedwith But sheisthefirsttoadmitthatasa20 and alwaysseenherselfasafeminist. Helen hasfoughtagainstsexistattitudes profession thattradesonwomen’s looks, makes HelenMirrensopopular. Ina tospeakhermindthat determination the mostoftheirnaturalgoodlooks.” towards greaterconfidencebymaking way ... Ihopecaninspireotherwomen okay-looking andI’mkeentostaythat I never was,” shesaid. “But Iwasalways listen. would “I’m notgood-lookingand Even though she is now a multi Even thoughsheisnowamulti It isthisauthenticityandher doubt: fear of failure." with self- racked “I was

called hera “sex queen”. Itwasa heroines, aseriousSunday newspaper in StratfordplayingShakespearean her. Earlyoninhercareerwhenshewas up ineverythingthatwaswritten about ‘sexy’ moniker, whichseemedtocrop whoever youwanttobe.” actor isagreatescape. You can be I werethatconfident.’ Butbeingan look atothergirlsandthink, ‘Oh, Iwish have agreatsenseofinsecurity. Iusedto ugly andmylegsweren’t right. Istill fear offailure, offeelingIwasfatand soared, “I wasrackedwithself-doubt: fuelling hercurrenteatinghabits. on stageinaskimpycostumewas she wasaserialdieter, andthatappearing lunch fortheday. Irecallhertellingme she wassippingadietcup-a-soup, her in theother, andaswesatdowntochat prostitute inoneactandashopassistant captivating everyone. Helenplayeda at thetimeandalsoonsetwhenIvisited, playwright Arthur Miller–whowas73 one-act playsbythelateiconic American Two-Way Mirror. Itcomprisedtwo Theatre inthecriticallyacclaimedplay black silkslipatLondon’s 1989, shewasonstagewearingaslinky taken thislong,” shesayslaughing. was 25. Honestly, I’mabitcrossthatit’s to me. Iwishithadhappenedwhen has beenremarkableandveryexciting “The changeinthelastfiveto10years tide hasturnedforwomeninacting. his deskandtellhimtobuggeroff.” that Ididnothavetheballstooverturn and evenmorehumiliatingwasthefact market,” shewrites. “It washumiliating, turn around, asifIwasaslavein anger byaskingmetostandupand “He earnedmyeternaldisdainand with BritishdirectorMichael Winner. what shecalls “a gruesomefilmaudition” A tellingmemoryfromthattimeisof which arestillfloodingin55yearslater. her onandfieldedoffersofactingwork agent fromthemanywantingtotake Company. Shepickedan Shakespeare ever actor askedtojointheRoyal launching hercareer. Helen’s performancewasdazzling, Another curse back then was the Another cursebackthenwasthe Today shesays, evenwhenhercareer When IfirstinterviewedHelenin Today Helenisdelightedtoseethe At 20 she became the youngest At 20shebecametheyoungest

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PICTURE CREDITS TO GO HERE PLEASE historical drama. in therecent HBO Catherine theGreat Hackford in2016; as husband Taylor in 1965; with Theatre production YouthNational Cleopatra ina year-old Helenas above: Nineteen- Clockwise from

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25 Slug here 26 disgracefully! well enjoy it.” better toage better You may as The Australian Women’s Weekly “It’s much |

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ARMANDO GALLO/ZUMA STUDIO/AUSTRALSCOPE. ANTHONY HARVEY/SHUTTERSTOCK. DAVID HEERDE/SHUTTERSTOCK. PA IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES. with anyone they want but women are with anyonethey wantbutwomenare publicity callfortheseries. King ofPoland!” shesaidin the Poniatowski] acountry, makinghim even gaveoneguy[Stanisław August give thempalacesorsomething. She wanted togetridofthemafter, she’d sexual relationshipbutwhenshe power. Shelovedsexandshea man butshedidn’t wanttorelinquish woman whoalwayswantedtohavea ‘I’m inlovewithlove’. Shewasa monogamist andoneofherlineswas: a ball. “Catherine wasaserial almost everysceneandclearlyhaving and noexpensespared. Helen’s in TV serieswithevocativecinematography clothing,” notesHelen. It’s aluxurious I lovecreatingthecharacterthrough department, Ilikecostumefittings, power. “I’ve alwayslovedthecostume side ofthecharacteraswellher costumes whichaccentuatethesensual sexual appetite. Shewearsexquisite politically shrewdandhasadynamic Catherine isimpressivelygritty, drama brilliant four-part HBOhistorical the Great, whoHelenplaysintherecent disgracefully wastheEmpressCatherine You mayaswellenjoyit.” older. There isnothinginbetween! roll withit. You dieyoung, oryouget disgracefully! Take itonthechin, and 74 years. “It’s muchbettertoage magazine, Helendelightedinher yourself.” you’ve grownupandcomeinto life, physicallyandmentally. It’s when just themostfabuloustimeinone’s she wasinherthirties. “I thinkit’s she jokes. yet anoldbird, butafterthatit'sfine.” mature, good-lookingwomanandnot 44 and58whenyou’renolongera goes. “There’s adifficult periodbetween with Helen, asfarherconfidence throw ‘sexy’ inthebin. ‘beauty’, Helenwouldalsoloveto that, alongwithscrappingtheword she findsextremelyirritating. Isuspect description thatstuckwithherand “I hatethat, inhistory, mencansleep One womanwhomythicallyaged In arecentinterviewinVogue Helen’s favouritetimewaswhen But gettingolderseemstositwell Catherine theGreat. Helen’s

her workforthe firsttime, whichwas Taylor, putting herrelationshipbefore many people.” and hehasbeenawonderfulmentor to He isthemantoturninanemergency, view. Heisbrave, loyalandsupportive. assumptions orprejudicestocloud his directly intheeyewithnocurtainof the mostunsexistman, lookingwomen autobiography Helenwrites, “Taylor is and “true friendship”. And inher she says. There isalsomutualrespect 1997. “What wehaveisapartnership,” finally decidedtotietheknotwithin director , who she been inarelationshipsince1986with but sheneverwantedtomarry. Shehas she sayslearnedagreatdealfrom, including LiamNeeson, allofwhom when shewasyoungerwithlovers absolutely weren’t true.” sexual creature, butthoserumours was somesortofdebauched, mad, always theintimationthatCatherine punished fortheirsexuality. There was Helen changed her life to be with Helen changedherlifetobewith Helen enjoyedbeautifulrelationships

Sir IanMcKellen. Bear; with Golden the Honorary 2019; accepting with IdrisElba in fans andposing above left: Meeting Clockwise from

APRIL 2020 APRIL of theDuke of Wellington from prosecuted for stealing Goya’s Portrait of aBritishpensionerwho, in1961, was film of theFast &Furiousfranchise. British McKellen, andnextupshe’s inF9, part Liar, triumph. HerlatestmovieisTheGood partnership withherworkcontinuesto time betweentheUSandUK. house intheUK, andshestilldividesher also key. Partofthatwasretainingher life, staying financiallyindependentwas key factor. of thecouple’s lovewascertainlya back upintheendandstrength at thebottomofladder. Sheclimbed the heightsinUKshewasnowback she feltsooutofplace. After reaching time andsherecallscryingdailybecause herself intheindustry. Itwasatough again, goingtoauditionsandproving known atthetime, andhadtostart Los Angeles, whereshewasbarely a reallybigdealforher. Shemovedto Alongside hermarriage, her Helen saysthen, asatanytimeinher based on the true story The Duke, basedonthetruestory co-starring with great friend Sir Ian co-starring withgreatfriendSir Ian | The Australian Women’s Weekly Cover story →

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Fresh off the ’s National Gallery, is coming runway during Paris Fashion out towards the end of the year. Week. Below: In February at the 70th Berlin An International Film Festival she was gown and pink honoured with the Honorary hair for the for her lifetime 2019 Cannes achievement. “Helen Mirren is a carpet. strong personality whose powerful portrayals are always impressive. She surprises us time and again with her interpretation of complex characters – whether it’s Chris in or Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen, her portrayals are a paradigm of strong women, and it is our great pleasure to award her the for her lifetime achievement,” said Mariette Rissenbeek, Executive Director of the Berlinale, who also praised Helen for discussing the abuse of power in the film business 25 years before #MeToo. Helen wore a black and silver Style Dolce & Gabbana ball gown icon adorned with sparkly holographic gems which Helen Mirren shimmered as she twirled. has proved time But the night wasn’t about and time again that her dress – true to form Helen great style is timeless, used her acceptance speech as she continually to confront her industry and steps out in dazzling champion change. “When red carpet gowns or I began work in film, out of edgy street looks. Never afraid of colour maybe 100 people on set, or a fabulous print, there were – if I was lucky her most dynamic – three women at the most. accessory is That is changing but not yet her confidence. enough,” she said. “When I began work in film all faces on set were white and that is changing but not yet enough. When I began work in film, racist or sexist language and behaviour was normal, an accepted reality of life ... that is changing but not yet enough. The only reason I want to continue in this brilliant industry is to witness more of that A floaty pink change I find so liberating and orange and so exciting.” Schiaparelli Haute The applause Couture gown for the 2019 Oscars. was deafening. Right: Making a Older, yes. Wiser, yes. And statement in head still making her mark. AWW to toe snakeskin. WIREIMAGE. IMAGES. GETTY

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