Helen Mirren On Sexist PDA, Marrying Young & F-Bomb Advice To Younger Self

Just more reasons to love Helen Mirren: the Oscar winner is sharing her thoughts on love, marriage and what she wishes she knew as a younger woman.

In a new interview with Daily Mail’s You magazine, the septuagenarian revealed the advice she’d give herself if she could go back in time.

“At 70 years old, if I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to use the words ‘f**k off’ much more frequently,” she told the mag.

The actress, who will soon be seen playing Hedda Hopper in “Trumbo” alongside Bryan Cranston, also advocated waiting until later in life to tie the knot.

(She wed director Taylor Hackford when she was 52 years old.)

“I think marrying late is a very good idea – it worked out for me. In general, I’d say it’s not a great idea to marry young,” she said. “And it’s a really terrible idea to get married for the [dress].”

Adding, “I was lucky because I’d worn so many incredible dresses as costumes. But girls nowadays have a princess complex – they’re longing to have the gorgeous dress, be the center of attention and live the dream for 24 hours.”

Helen acknowledged that times are changing for women, but we still have a long way to go before reaching equality.

Women living in this era are stuck in an awkward transition period, where there is tension between independence and subordination.

“Women are still toddlers in this modern world, trying to find their position in the age of sexual liberation, birth control, education and financial independence. We’re still finding our path,” she said. “And yes, we’re making a lot of mistakes along the way.”

The actress also took issue with one form of PDA.

“It annoys me when I see men with an arm slung round their girlfriend’s shoulders. It’s like ownership,” she said. “Of course, when you’re young, you want the guy to take your hand and look after you. But when I see girls being leaned on, I want to say, ‘Tell him to get his damned arm off your shoulder.'”

“Trumbo,” based on the story of 1940s Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo and the McCarty era, will hit theaters on November 16.

— Erin O’Sullivan