The thing about getting older is you really do become wiser. And for Dame Helen Mirren, wisdom is proving to be a powerful tool. The 74- going on 75-year-old star of stage and screen, one of a bevy of mature celebrity ambassadors boosting the credibility of the cosmetics industry, wants to scrap the word ‘beauty’ and replace it with ‘character’ – “because that’s what it really is,” she pleads.
Helen, of course, has spent her working life in character and with each comes a painted face and a wardrobe, but she’s also talking about the character of your looks, that unique combination of lines, features and shapes that make you, you. Conforming to an ideal concept of what beauty means has always held women back and destroys inner confidence, which Helen says is exactly what beauty products should be supporting. She advises minimal, pared back make-up as you get older, though she’s also a keen supporter of a slash of red lipstick.
Helen was thrilled when she was first asked to be a face of L’Oréal back in 2014, and right from the get-go talked about the importance of representing older women as they really are and how the role of cosmetics is to make the most of women’s natural looks. She was hired after a survey ranked her as the most appealing example of a positive attitude to ageing. L’Oréal was smart. The cosmetics giant knew that with Helen Mirren in their camp, women would listen. “I’m not good-looking and I never was,” she said. “But I was always okay-looking and I’m keen to stay that way ... I hope I can inspire other women towards greater confidence by making the most of their natural good looks.”
This story is from the April 2020 edition of The Australian Women's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2020 edition of The Australian Women's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Where to go in 2024
Who doesn't love fantasising about their next trip? We've gone for lesser-known locations, and whether you're seeking bright lights, striking natural scenery, serenity or excitement, here's where you're sure to find it.
The woman behind The King
As Sofia Coppola's biopic Priscilla readies to hit screens, we look back at the early life and great love of Priscilla Beaulieu Presley.
Say hello to the Cockatoo cake
When we put a call-out to our readers for their best children's cakes we were inundated with recipes, and this clever cockatoo was ahead of the flock.
Trump's women
Will it be the jailhouse or the White House for Donald Trump this year? The women in his life could make all the difference.
REBECCA GIBNEY “I feel very much at ease in my own skin”
The beloved actress chats exclusively with The Weekly about family life, empty nesting, and the contentment and hard-won self-acceptance she's found with the passing years.
Barbra Streisand – No Regrets
Barbra Streisand writes candidly about her loves and losses in her must-read new memoir. Here, she talks about a fleeting, heady relationship with handsome Miami Vice star Don Johnson.
Merry macadamias
Delightful, delicious edible presents from your kitchen to please everyone! These sweet and spicy nuts are great for snacking and add a crunchy burst of flavour to sprinkle over salads and desserts.
Season's greetings
Despite decades of practice, Christmas still sneaks up and surprises the best of us.
Rewriting a GREEK TRAGEDY
The children and grandchildren of deposed King Constantine II of Greece have wealth, beauty and fame, and are some of Europe's most glamorous royals. But they do not have a kingdom... yet.
'NEXT CHRISTMAS I'LL BE a married woman!'
Sophie Delezio is ready to celebrate the holiday season with her best friend and fiancé, Joseph, after a year that's seen an engagement, a move to a new home and another critical surgery.