Additional Coverage:
- Helen Mirren, 80, says there are ‘great advantages’ to growing older (businessinsider.com)
Helen Mirren Embraces 80, Ditching Longevity Hype for Life’s Simple Pleasures
At 80 years young, Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren is dishing out some refreshing wisdom: aging, she says, is “fabulous.” In a recent interview, Mirren shared her candid thoughts on embracing every moment of growing older, even as she expresses skepticism about the modern obsession with extreme longevity and “biohacking.”
“Fuck it, I’m alive and I’m working and I can drink a glass of wine and I can wear makeup and I can listen to music and I can watch a beautiful sunset and I can go to the theater and I can watch a movie and I can binge Netflix and I can live life. It’s a beautiful thing,” Mirren told Allure.
While acknowledging the natural downsides of aging, like thinning hair and the precious years lost during the pandemic, Mirren isn’t dwelling on what’s gone. Instead, she’s challenging the notion that we should strive to be perpetually young.
“I mean, already the age I am is probably way past the age I would’ve lived to 100 years ago,” she remarked. “But I think it’s a bit of a dream and a fantasy [that life extension stuff], because when they think of being 150, they don’t think of actually being 150 years old.
They’re thinking of being 30 for 150 years. And that’s just not the way the world or nature works.”
Mirren’s approach to beauty is equally straightforward. Her top tip?
Avoid smoking. And while she’s a fan of the sun, she’s diligent about using sunblock on her face and body.
“I love sunbathing and everyone says you’re not supposed to do that, but I just love the sun,” she admitted.
For those who dread the passage of time, Mirren offers a no-nonsense message: “You can be as afraid as you like, but that’s not going to change anything. It’s going to happen.
So live with it.” She recalled her own teenage apprehension about turning 30, only to discover it was a “great” age, followed by equally fulfilling decades.
“There are disadvantages, no question. But there are also great advantages.
And you learn this as you travel through life,” she explained.
Looking ahead, Mirren is eager to see what younger generations will “make of the world,” recognizing that it’s “their turn” to shape the future.
Beyond her philosophical outlook, Mirren also shared practical advice for staying active, emphasizing that “it’s never too late” to start exercising, even in your 50s and 60s. She suggests small changes like short walks or yoga, and even incorporates a 12-minute military routine from the 1950s into her regimen.
Mirren isn’t alone in her positive perspective on aging. Celebrities like Elizabeth Banks and Nicole Kidman have also spoken about embracing the journey, highlighting the importance of sleep, water, a positive mindset, and the invaluable wisdom gained through accumulated experiences.
Read More About This Story:
- Helen Mirren, 80, says there are ‘great advantages’ to growing older (businessinsider.com)