Helen Mirren Quotes: 20 Words of Wisdom
Dame Helen Mirren, the much-respected star of stage, screen and TV, has much to say on life and success – and we have to say we are enthralled!
With a fascinating career spanning over 50 years, it’s little wonder that this Oscar-winner superstar has picked up so much insight and perception.
Many will remember Helen’s portrayal of Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect in the 90s, and her Oscar-winning performance in The Queen in 2007, but this talented actor has also won countless other awards including Emmys and Golden Globes throughout her glittering career.
Here are some of our favourite Helen Mirren quotes from a truly inspirational actor.
Helen Mirren quotes: 20 words of wisdom
On ageing
- “When you’re 16, 30 seems ancient. When you’re 30, 45 seems ancient. When you’re 45, 60 seems ancient. When you’re 60, nothing seems ancient.”
- “There’s a scary moment when you realise you’re no longer the youngest person in the room. Especially if you’ve been a successful young person. That’s followed, of course, by the realisation that you’re actually the oldest person in the room.”
- “As you reach each age, you gain the understanding you need to deal with it and enjoy it.”
On looking for the positives
- “Rejection is just a landing pad for your next takeoff.”
- “I always love working with young actors, because there’s always something to learn. It’s always exciting to see the next generation and how they approach things and what’s great about them and what’s not so great about them.”
- “I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.”
On relationships
Dame Helen Mirren with husband Taylor Hackford Pic: Shutterstock / Featureflash Phot
- “Humour in a relationship is so important. Many women will say that. Some say, ‘If they can make you laugh, it’s the sexiest thing on earth.'”
- “The great marriages are partnerships. It can’t be a great marriage without being a partnership.”
- “I don’t think it’s good to try and change anyone. The trick and the mystery – of relationships and life in general – is to learn to live with the bits you don’t like.”
- “Working away from my husband for long periods is good and bad. It stops us taking each other for granted and gives us space, but I miss him terribly.”
On life lessons
Helen Mirren, Best Actress winner for “The Queen” at the 79th Annual Academy Awards, 2007 Pic: Shutterstock / Featureflash Phot
- “I don’t think there’s anything on this planet that more trumpets life that the sunflower. For me that’s because of the reason behind its name. Not because it looks like the sun but because it follows the sun. During the course of the day, the head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky. A satellite dish for sunshine. Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it. And that’s such an admirable thing. And such a lesson in life.”
- “I don’t believe that if you do good, good things will happen. Everything is completely accidental and random. Sometimes bad things happen to very good people and sometimes good things happen to bad people. But at least if you try to do good things, then you’re spending your time doing something worthwhile.”
- “I’m not a confident person. Actually, I think most people aren’t.”
- “You can spend a dollar on a jacket in a thrift store. And you can spend a thousand dollars on a jacket in a shop. And if you saw those two jackets walking down the street, you probably wouldn’t know which was which.”
- “You write your life story by the choices you make.“
- “We’re all idiots when we’re young. We don’t think we are, but we are.”
- “You can’t control how other people see you or think of you. But you have to be comfortable with that.”
On success
Helen Mirren in 2019 Pic: Shutterstock
- “I believe that if you want to go make your mark on the world you’ve got to go out and do it. Don’t be shy, be adventurous.”
- “Everyone wants to be a movie star or a model, to be in the papers, but few realise just what hard work it is.”
- “I’ve always believed that one woman’s success can only help another woman’s success.”
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Allison Hay
I joined the "My Weekly" team thirteen years ago and, more recently, "The People's Friend". I love the variety of topics we cover both online and in the magazines. I manage the digital content for the brands, sharing features and information on the website, social media and in our digital newsletters.
