Helen Mirren has definitely earned a legion of fans throughout her more than 50-year career as an actress, and her commitment to ageing naturally has garnered her even more popularity.
Mirren started off in the entertainment industry as a theater actress, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company before making her debut on London’s West End in 1975.
Though, the now-78-year-old didn’t become a household name until later on in her life – she was 35 when she landed her breakout role as a gangster’s girlfriend in ‘The Long Good Friday’ (1980), opposite Bob Hoskins.
Having focused on her career for much of her adult life, finding the right partner and having children wasn’t on Mirren’s radar… Until she met her now-husband – US film director Taylor Hackford.
“I was 38 when I met Taylor, pretty late in life,” she stated in a 2016 AARP interview, recalling how the director had kept her waiting for an audition when they first met. When she eventually landed the part, the pair got to know each other and their relationship grew from there.
Eventually, Mirren and Hackford were able to bond over their similar working class upbringings (her mother was a working class woman whose own family came from a long line of butchers, while Mirren’s father was a Russian aristocrat who escaped to the UK during the Russian Revolution and became a cab driver to support his family).
The future spouses also bonded over their love for traveling, and apparently had a similar view on storytelling, both being in the entertainment industry.
Even though Hackford’s two children from previous marriages supported Mirren’s union with their father, this didn’t change her stance on becoming a mother herself. Though, she did explain that she found Hackford’s dedication to being the best parent to his children rather endearing.
The pair eventually married in 1997, after they came to the realization that they knew they would be together forever. At that point, they’d been together for over a decade.
The infamous swimsuit photo
Fast forward to 2008, and Mirren went viral for an image her husband snapped of her at the beach… Something that stunned fans and even the legendary actress herself!
The married couple had been on a romantic Italian beach vacation when they trekked to a secluded beach spot to take in the breathtaking views in private.
She recalled how she took a photo of her husband and then, in return, he snapped a quick pic of her. Though, Mirren said that the moment she sucked in her stomach when posing, she saw a small flash in the distance and crouched down on the rocks to hide from the apparent paparazzo.
When Mirren’s husband turned around, he couldn’t see the paparazzo, and said his wife was just being “paranoid”. Though, sure enough, the photo taken of Mirren in a red bikini was posted by a tabloid and went viral everywhere.
A few years later the actress told Ellen DeGeneres on the latter’s talk show that the image was just a fluke, saying: “I look at that picture and say, god, I wish I look like that. But I don’t.”
Years later, people are still stunned by the image of Mirren, who was 63 years old at the time it was taken – with many people on the internet commenting that they don’t look half as good as her despite being decades younger!
In 2014, the Oscar winner spoke about the image just before her 68th birthday, telling People: “The truth is I don’t really look that good, it was just a flattering picture.”
She added: “I am beyond the bikini-wearing age, really. I wouldn’t normally wear one. I look like a woman in her 60s. I’ve always looked awful in a bikini, even when I was young.”
What do you think of Helen Mirren’s stunning bikini image? Let us know in the comments!
If you liked this article, then you’ll definitely be interested in reading about how Julie Andrews made a rare public appearance at 87.
“Got a BILLION Reasons to Love Him,” Salma Hayek’s Tribute to Her Husband Causes a Big Stir
“When I married him, everyone said, ’Oh, she married him for the money,’” Salma revealed a few years ago about her marriage to François-Henri Pinault. Despite addressing these rumors, the same hurtful comments still flood her Instagram posts whenever she celebrates her husband.
More than a decade into her marriage, the actress still remembers the stereotypical accusations she faced after marrying billionaire businessman François-Henri Pinault. The couple met in 2006, not realizing their casual conversation would blossom into something serious. Salma and François-Henri have a daughter together, and Salma is also a stepmom to his three kids from a previous relationship.
The Oscar-nominated star has often addressed the misconceptions around her marriage, saying that when she married him, everyone thought it was for the money. Gushing over her husband, she said, “Fifteen years together, and we are strong in love. I don’t even get offended; I’m like, yeah, whatever.” She also mentioned that there’s a lot of unfair judgment against wealthy men, with people assuming that being rich means they might not be good people.
Despite repeatedly addressing the issue, whenever Salma shares moments with her husband, the same accusations of marrying for money resurface. Yet, Salma recently took to Instagram to express her love for François-Henri, posting a captivating carousel of images capturing their intimate moments, including those where they share tender gazes and affectionate gestures on the red carpet.
In a moving tribute for her husband’s birthday, Salma poured out her heart: “God bless the day you were born, mi amor. Thank you for the endless love and laughter you bring me each day. Happy birthday, my king.” This declaration of love resonated deeply, stirring admiration for their profound connection and leaving a lasting impression on all who saw the post on Instagram.
Underneath the carousel of pictures, a commenter playfully remarked: “Got a billion reasons to love him,” cleverly playing with words to suggest Salma’s affection stems from his wealth. Another commenter added a touch of irony, saying, “Money can’t buy hap… wait. It can.” Meanwhile, another person commented, “This is what you can get when you have a LOT of money… 🤷🏽♂️”
In addition to the remarks about wealth, some comments focused on the age gap, with one person stating, “She’s beautiful. He’s old,” while another sarcastically remarked, “Your Dad looks like a great guy ❤️,” and others simply referred to Pinault as “Old man.”
Love triumphed over the critics, and the post was flooded with comments defending Salma. Many noted that the 4-year age gap wasn’t significant, with one person saying, “People thinking there’s a big age gap, they’re 4 years apart, people calm down.”
Others expressed support for the couple, like one user who wrote, “The way you look at him 😊 with so much love 🥰,” and another who commented, “The secret of eternal youth is a beautiful love that makes you smile every day ❤️.”
And in response to allegations that she married for money, one commenter shut down the criticism, saying, “She loves him. She still works and always has. She didn’t marry a wealthy man to retire. She met a man who made her laugh and shared the same ambition and mentality. Bravo.” This comment effectively silenced all the critics.
Recently, people criticized Salma over speculation about her supposed plastic surgery.
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