Helen Mirren proudly shows off her curves
Dame Helen Mirren has become a world-renowned actress but she has revealed that as a young woman entering the industry, she suffered from terrible insecurities.
In an interview with Allure, Helen reflected on her rise to fame in the 1960s and how she hated her curvy figure, as it didn’t conform to the industry’s expectations.
“It was the time of Twiggy, and I did not look like a twig,” she said.
“My cheeks were too fat, legs were too short, breasts too big.”
In hindsight, the 72-year-old icon said she can understand why people called her sexy at the time but she struggled with her own appearance as she was different from the popular trend.
“I fell into the cliché of sexiness: blonde hair, tits, waist – which I hated at the time because it was not fashionable,” she said.
“You had to be thin and have a cigarette and only wear black. And I just never fit into that look.”
The Oscar, Emmy and Tony awards winner said that if she had to give her younger self advice she would tell her not to be so polite.
“In those days, you had to,” she told Allure. “It's hard to explain how difficult it is to overcome the culture. You become a voice in the wilderness. No one wants to listen.”
In 1975, Helen famously stood up to Michael Parkinson when he said that her figure was getting in the way of her becoming a "serious" actress.
Although Helen held her ground that day, she wishes she had been less concerned with politeness in her younger years.
Image credit: Allure