Dame Helen Mirren, 78, has been an emblem of grace and style on the red carpet since the late 1970s. She’s amazed the audience many times with her daring outfits and looks, but this time, she’s caught everyone’s attention in a whole new way. Many people were stunned when they saw a photo of the actress in her bikini on vacation in Italy.
She admits that this photo will ’haunt’ her for the rest of her life.
In 2008, Helen Mirren, at that time 63 years old, stunned the public with her bikini photoshoot. The photo quickly went viral. The Oscar-winning actress became something of a post-mid-life beauty symbol. Reflecting on the photo, Mirren expressed, “I think this thing will haunt me for the rest of my life,” as she was surprised to see this photo in all the major tabloids.
The actress also revealed she was just trying to look good for her husband, Taylor Hackford, “So we were there, swimming a little bit, lying in the sun, and Taylor said, ’Stand up, I want to take a picture of you.’ So I stood up and sucked my tummy in because my husband was taking my photo. I tried to suck my cheeks in. I tried to look good.”
This unexpected fame opened up some business opportunities for her.
Simon Mirren, Helen’s nephew, said that his aunt received a lot of business prospects but showed no interest in capitalizing on this photo. Simon recalled, “I begged her to turn us all into millionaires by marketing bikinis after everyone went wild over her fit bikini body but she said absolutely no. She won’t brand herself like that.”
It’s not the first time an actress has challenged age stereotypes.
The actress unveiled her “radical” hairstyle while promoting her role as Hespera, the villain in Shazam! Fury of the Gods. The actress acknowledged that after growing her hair, she kind of liked it and didn’t feel like cutting it.
During a recent TV appearance, Mirren challenged the fact that older women are discouraged from having long hair because it tends to thin with age. The actress refuted this notion, stating that there is a general belief that one should not have long hair after a certain age.
The Oscar-winning actress hasn’t had long hair since her twenties. She liked the way it looked and decided to keep it. “I thought, do you know what, it’s pretty cool, I think I’ll stick with it for a little while. It will come off eventually…but I’m kind of enjoying it, it’s quite radical,” the actress said.
Mirren also expressed her pride in representing women over 60, stating that creativity, passion, and energy do not stop unless one decides to stop them. “So it’s just self-motivated, really, and never give up. And find enjoyment, if it’s possible in your life,” she shared.
Dame Helen Mirren has also been vocal about defying beauty standards for older women, citing that her generation has been subject to ageism for too long. She also voiced her frustration with beauty products being marketed with 15-year-old models in a 2019 interview.
The actress has her own views on beauty too, and it’s refreshing to hear someone in the public eye acknowledge that the idea can be exclusionary and make people feel insecure about themselves. “They’ll think, ’Well, I’m not very beautiful. It’s all very well for all these beautiful women, but I don’t feel beautiful,’” she explained.
For Mirren, it’s important for everyone to feel confident and fabulous, regardless of their looks. “Being powerful is so much more interesting than being beautiful,” the actress has always thought.
On a different note, Mirren revealed that she performed her own stunts on the set of Shazam! Fury of the Gods. “I was incredibly brave and didn’t say anything or complain because I wanted to be a real ’stunty’ person,” the actress proudly shared.
It’s great to see actors who are dedicated to their craft and willing to take risks for their performances.
Demi Moore, 61, also fights stereotypes that older women shouldn’t wear bikinis in her latest video, but the public is divided.
The Heart-Wrenching Reason Why Mark Ruffalo Kept His Brain Tumor a Secret From His Wife
At times, our bodies seem to sense when something isn’t quite right. Actor Mark Ruffalo shared a fascinating story during his recent talk on a podcast. He got a bad dream that turned out to be unwanted reality.
Bad news came when they were expecting their first child.
© ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo
Back in 2001, while busy filming The Last Castle, doctors discovered a harmless brain tumor behind his left ear. What’s intriguing is that Ruffalo had a strange dream before this, almost like a warning. He felt compelled to see a doctor urgently after the dream, even though he didn’t have any obvious symptoms except for a minor ear problem.
«It wasn’t like any other dream I had had. It wasn’t even a voice, it was just pure knowledge: ’You have a brain tumor, and you have to deal with it immediately,’» Rufallo shared.
Ruffalo had to make a hard decision in order to protect his wife.
Ruffalo was hesitant to worry his wife, who was about to have their first child, so he kept the news to himself until after the birth. When he finally told her, she was understandably upset saying, «I always knew you were gonna die young!»
Ruffalo underwent surgery to remove the tumor, but it wasn’t without risks. There was a chance he could lose his hearing or have facial paralysis. Sadly, he did lose his hearing in left ear permanently.
«Take my hearing, let me keep the face, and just let me be the father of this kid,» The Incredible Hulk actor recalled thinking at the time.
Despite these challenges, Ruffalo didn’t let them hold him back. He continued his acting career and even received his fourth Academy Award nomination. Alongside his professional success, he treasures his role as a father to his three children: Keen, Bella Noche, and Odette.
Mark Ruffalo’s heartfelt tribute to his wife, Sunrise, reflects their enduring love story. Despite humble beginnings, Ruffalo’s rise to Hollywood stardom was accompanied by Sunrise’s unwavering support and companionship. She played a significant role in his life journey, standing by him through thick and thin, showcasing the strength of their bond and partnership.
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