dto me to all personal effects, and then empress, queen, princess, international spy, “Vacinada“ or disheveled rebel on screen. After 55 years of career and more than 140 films, to Helen Mirren what is still left to experience? You have done theatre, cinema, television and, recently, has turned into an icon (term now abused, but perfect for her) of international high fashion and over 50 beauty. L’Oréal has chosen her as an ambassador for its campaign You’re worth it (You deserve it) at 69, and Checco Zalone, to make us smile in the pandemic, sewed the character of the Vacinada on her… In any case, she is memorable in any role.
Months ago the American weekly People immortalized her in the annual cover dedicated to beauty: and there, in the photo shoot, she dazzles you with her white hair, her indigo nails and billowing pink chiffon evening gowns: “Hot Dame, Helen Mirren!” screeches the title. Dame Helen: you look at her, you talk to her, and in fact the role of the great lady suits her. At the same time though, when you least expect it, that’s where he blurts out with the irreverent interjections of the unrestrained teenager.
The many faces of Helen Mirren
His recent role choices confirm an eclectic talent; in the coming months of her we will see her on the big screen in the sequel to Shazam! Fury of the godsa DC Comics superhero film where she transforms into a mythological figure (Hespera, «a wicked rebel’s delight»), in Fast X, Barbie and in GoldaWhere plays the charismatic Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir during the Yom Kippur War. And finally… Excuse me, who ever wants to miss an episode of 1923, a prequel to Yellowstone with Kevin Costner, where – in the Far West of the depression alongside Harrison Ford, her husband – she takes up rifles and knocks out the victim who attacks her?
Shazam!, is Helen Mirren
We interview her in Los Angeles where is he promoting Shazam!: the conversation quickly jumps from the present to the past, from the condition of women yesterday and today to her love for Salento and Salento. When you mention certain political figures, he unceremoniously puts his middle finger in front of you, and then various fuck them or fuck him fly, other “features” of his enthusiastic approach to his life.
In an acid green top, a spotted scarf around her hair and a veil of make-up, Mirren is warm, friendly and smiling. She is wise – I think in the end – because she knows how to face life with joy, energy and courage. The best gift to whoever interviews you? Her answers alternate with a series of good laughs.
Dame Helen, we’ve seen her in action and drama, in comedies, mysteries, cartoons and now in superheroes: tell us one genre she hasn’t defied yet. Does she know?
I think that for me the most impervious test – and still to be experienced – would be a comedy with Checco Zalone. It is certainly the greatest challenge that comes to mind. All in Italian, of course.
I didn’t expect that. You have two new films coming out, the television series 1923, three in post-production, a documentary on neurological disorders and spinal cord injuries… Where does he find the enthusiasm, energy and curiosity to continue working at a frenetic pace? His strength is envious.
No, Alessandra, I’m not so sure I can always make it. Deep down in my heart, then, I just want to stay in my house in Salento, with my friends, and take care of the olive trees (she is personally involved in the battle against Xylella with the non-profit organization Save the Olives, ed). That’s just what I would like to do. When I’m offered a role, the first reaction is resistance. But then I start to think that it might amuse me or maybe take me to an interesting part of the world… So I say yes and in that same moment my mind changes direction once again. I leave Italy and when I arrive on the set I am happy, I give myself 100% because I really love my job. That’s how it works for me, seriously.
Helen Mirren at the premiere of “1923” in Las Vegas on Dec. 3, 2022. (Photo by Shy McGrath/WireImage)
Helen Mirren, 70 so what?
She testifies to us that 70 can mark the triumphal phase of a woman’s life. We can work, expose ourselves and engage in our battles, and believe.
It is a beautiful and interesting moment. However, I would like to go back to being 30, and not to be young: you know, today the opportunities for young actresses, the roles that are offered to them, certainly did not exist when I was 30. Perhaps, I tell myself, I have lost many opportunities . On the other hand, these changes in attitude and culture have led to positive results for each of us: look, the look of more experienced and mature women is today not only accepted but an integral part of the world of creativity. In short, our appearance is no longer relegated to a corner, almost punished, forgotten due to the years. Women aged 50, 60, 70 don’t think their life is over: as long as they are in good health, they go on. Today it’s not about being lucky or not, we’ve all simply adopted the right way of being.
How do you remember your 30 years?
That phase wasn’t easy for us, there wasn’t #MeToo, we fought the battles by ourselves. It was so hard to fight against the dominant culture, when men kept telling us that the fundamental question was the “nature of things” or having children and being mothers. But which nature? Bullshit, ass…! It’s always and only a question of culture. And that story that you couldn’t change the “nature of things”? It’s all crap! But it is difficult to communicate this to today’s young people. Do you agree or not?
Totally agree.
Because then they ask you: “But you didn’t do anything, didn’t you react?”. And you answer: “Well, of course, but the dominant culture of the time silenced me, erased me, eliminated me”. The patriarchal system governed the work and economic model. “But dear, I’m sorry you know, you have a very precious gift, you can have children, giving life is much more important than anything else”. Do you know what I replied? As! (and he pushes his middle finger back in your face. We laugh)
The concept of beauty has also changed – as we said before.
Absolutely, we were always used to seeing men of a certain age with wrinkles and graying hair on the screen, when for a woman this was unimaginable: now it’s acceptable, it’s a significant cultural change. Let’s just hope we don’t go back, even regressing is common these days.
And after Shazam!, after Golda, after the documentary, what’s your next project?
Learning Italian, now I’m taking lessons every day, I want to be able to speak it with be-nis-si-mo people! Then I want to learn how to cook and knead bread, pastries and cakes.
He’s in Los Angeles these days, but he lives part of the year in Puglia and I imagine he often returns to England, his country. Where is home for her?
For professional reasons my husband (director Taylor Hackford, married in 1997, ed) and I have a house in America – we also have our family here, and this is very important – but more and more in my heart and thoughts is the concept of “home” takes me to Italy.
Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford at the 78th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2021. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
Why do you feel at home in Italy?
Well, let’s start with the house we built in Salento but, even more than that, I would say the people and the culture of the country. I will always be a foreigner, I understand that, and I will never be able to fully understand your south, but there in Salento they immediately welcomed me with transport. Not like a movie star, even if everyone calls me “the actress”: they literally hugged me, threw their arms around my neck. I told Taylor just the other day, “We’ve been here in Los Angeles for like 15 years, we’ve seen the neighbor’s son grow up to be a teen and go to college, but we have no relationship. In Italy after only a handful of months – it seems incredible – there were at least five people I could call instantly and they would come running to help me if I had a problem. Here I really don’t think that after six months someone will open their arms and run to give you a hand. It is a matter of goodness of heart, of the generosity of the people of Salento. And for a person “passing through” it is wonderful to be welcomed like this.
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