GIRLS WHO GET IT-HELEN MIRREN

8:15 AM Posted by MS.NOVA

I have a mild fascination with Helen Mirren. An accomplished actress, she exudes a confidence and regality that seems unmatched in Hollywood, and the choices she makes are unexpectedly daring. She’s a beauty who isn’t afraid to show her audience that she’s comfortable in her own skin, having taken roles and posed for photos that showcase her seductive side. At 65, Helen makes being talented, looking sensuous and aging gracefully look like child’s play.

Born in London, England, Helen experienced a few challenges in her early days. Admitting to being date raped as a student and dabbling in cocaine in later years, she had to overcome a few hardships as a young woman to get to where she is today. Once she discovered her love for acting, however, Helen developed her craft, spending many years both on stage and on screen. She went on to receive four Screen Actors Guild Awards, four Emmys, three Golden Globes, two Cannes Film Festival Awards and one Oscar for her work, and was also appointed a Dame of the British Empire in 2003. But who’s counting?

What I find most interesting about Helen, however, is how well she holds her own in an industry that is often discriminatory against women of a certain age. Her elegance and sharp wit make her naturally attractive, but she shocked the world two years ago when she hit the beach in a red bikini and redefined the term sex symbol.

Challenging the impression of the mature female actress, Helen also holds her own amongst Hollywood’s leading men. Her most recent role as a retired CIA agent in RED had her kicking ass as an action star, but this veteran performer doesn’t consider herself a star at all. A self-described “working actress”, she’s humble about her success, a characteristic that merely adds to her charm.

For convincing the world that 65 is the new 30, Helen Mirren is a Girl Who Gets It.

Profile by: Daina Astwood-George

Follow: @ILikeDags