Helen Mirren Learns Her Real Age During an Interview With Ellen DeGeneres
Against all odds, Helen Mirren and Blink-182 have something in common: Neither can remember how old they are. During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Thursday, the Oscar winner was shocked to learn that she’s an entire year younger than she had previously thought. Mirren and DeGeneres were discussing Mirren’s welcoming attitude toward the aging process, at 72, when the dame corrected DeGeneres, claiming that, in fact, she’s 73 years old.
“When did you turn 73? Are you sure?” DeGeneres asked, as a confused look settled onto Mirren’s face. “I think I’m 73. My husband and I, we forget,” she replied. Mirren went on to explain how she and her husband, director Taylor Hackford, often plan ahead and consider themselves another year older when January 1 rolls around; she said they actually thought they were 74 until very recently. DeGeneres maintained that Mirren was younger than she thought and, after verifying that her birth date of July 26, 1945, does indeed make her 72, Mirren quickly transitioned from confused to excited. “I’m 72? This is fantastic!” she said. “This is amazing! I just made a whole year!” Exciting news, to be sure, but as DeGeneres joked, “It does seem like you’re aging, you don’t know your age. I was gonna say—you look great, but you’re losing it.”
Whatever her exact age, the Winchester actress has proved time and again that it really is just a number. She walked in the first-ever L’Oréal runway show on the Champs-Élysées during Paris Fashion Week in October, and spoke to Allure in August about asking L’Oréal to stop using the word “anti-aging.” “This word ‘anti-aging’—we know we’re getting older. You just want to look and feel as great as you can on a daily basis,” she said, adding that, although she’s fine with being 72 and looking her age, she hates being treated like a septuagenarian. “If people treat me like the age I am, I get absolutely insulted, really cross. I hate when people give up their seat for me. No, no, no. I don’t want your seat,” she said.
Related: Helen Mirren is Instagram’s New Selfie Queen
At 72, Helen Mirren Proves That Age Is Just a Number
Wearing with her long blonde waves with tousled bags, English actress Helen Mirren strikes a pose in 1970.
The actress poses with her voluminous, tousled red curls with a subtle smoky eye and satin red lip in 1979.
In 1985, Mirren wears her golden blonde hair in natural waves with blunt bangs and a light smoky eye.
Pairing her elegant up do with a chic hat and satin pink lip, Mirren attends the Variety Club Awards in 1982.
Wearing her tousled bob with full bangs and a satin mauve lip, Mirren attends the Drama Desk Awards Ceremony in 1995.
With her black feathered hat and luminous skin, Mirren attends the 54th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 1997.
Wearing her wild blonde curls in a tousled up do with a berry pink lip, Mirren arrives at the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2003.
At the 74th Annual Academy Awards in 2002, Mirren radiates wearing her sleek bob side-parted with a natural berry pink lip.
At the 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2003 , Mirren keeps a natural face with a berry stained lip.
At the 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2004, Mirren wears a feathered waves with a pink glossy lip.
Opting for an elegant French twist and a glossy, fuchsia lip , Mirren attends the 2005 BAFTA Film Awards.
Celebrating her Oscar win for her role in The Queen, Mirren radiates with subtle glittered smoky eye and glossy lip at the 79th Annual Academy Awards in 2007.
Wearing her hair in an elegant, slicked back up do with a dark smoke eye, Mirren attends the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2012.
At the John Carter Los Angeles film premiere, Mirren opts for a chic braided up do with a satin, berry lip.
Wearing her blonde locks in wild, tousled curls with a dark smokey eye, Mirren attends the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
At the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2014, Mirren wears her blonde bob slicked back with bright, coral red lip.
With side-swept bangs and a pale pink lip, Mirren attends the 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2014.
At the Collateral Beauty London film premiere in 2016, Mirren wears her platinum blonde hair in tousled curls with a subtle smoky eye.
