Helen Mirren Welcomed Her 80s Without Hesitation: 'I Can Live Life'

For decades, Helen Mirren has reigned as one of the queens of Hollywood, and she shows no signs of stopping, despite achieving octogenarian status in July 2025. Unfettered by age, the "Thursday Murder Club" star has retained her reputation as both a talented performer and fashion icon. In her 70s, Helen Mirren flaunted plenty of stunning style moments, and we anticipate new show-stoppers in the coming decade.

Ultimately, age is just a number, and Mirren isn't going to let that number hold her back. As she summed up to Allure in 2025, "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."

Moreover, Mirren doesn't waste any time pining for her younger days. While throwback pics of Helen Mirren are beyond stunning, she's not desperately clinging to the past — and thinks we shouldn't, either. "You don't want to look 15 when you're 55. You can't. It's impossible. And you don't actually want to," she said. "You want to look like a beautiful, cool, energetic...55-year-old!" Fair enough. So what does she do, not to look younger, but to look like her best self? Surprisingly, this celebrated dame takes an equally pragmatic approach to wellness and skincare.

Sometimes, trying to model our beauty regimen after a favorite star can feel out of reach. Who has the money and the time? (And the access to professional makeup artists?) But Helen Mirren takes a down-to-earth approach to her appearance. Skincare-wise, Mirren claims, "Honestly, I don't really take care of myself and I never have. ... I just grab whatever's in front of me to use." She does admit a preference for simple beauty solutions like olive oil, castor oil, and lemon juice, but doesn't specify how she uses them. We can only speculate; castor oil, for one, has various beauty applications and benefits.

Ambivalent skincare aside, the "Goodbye June" actor does have one piece of go-to wellness advice. "I think my biggest beauty tip would be: Don't smoke," Mirren told Allure. We heartily agree, as smoking is one of the top everyday habits that can make you look older — not to mention the other health implications.

When it comes to overall wellness, Mirren also encourages peers in their 50s to start making "little changes now." Speaking as an ambassador for Age UK's Act Now, Age Better campaign in 2025, Mirren said, "It doesn't have to be joining a gym; it can just be small changes like taking a short walk or yoga. ... It's never too late to start doing something, so why not give something a go while you're younger?" Even a small improvement can make a difference, and Mirren's core philosophy seems to be one of moderation. As she said to Allure, "I've always said, do everything, but don't do too much of anything." Evidently, this includes not overthinking the number of candles on your next birthday cake.

For some of us, getting older can be a tough pill to swallow, but Helen Mirren has better things to worry about. Specifically, the "1923" star is less concerned about counting up her years and more interested in enjoying her life to the fullest. "Honestly, I don't celebrate birthdays. I don't recognize them because life just rolls on," she told People in 2025. We can look forward to plenty of Mirren wisdom, as she has a lot to say about getting older — both how it changes you, and how it doesn't. For instance, she's not a fan of the cute grandma stereotype. "One thing that I find galling as I get older is the sort of patronizing condescension: 'Oh, that's so sweet.' ... Don't give me those sort of awful labels," Mirren said.

Over the years, Mirren has come to view the passage of time in a positive light. "Whatever you may think about aging, it's something we must all try to embrace rather than fear," she told Age UK. Speaking to E! in 2024, Mirren further suggested that there are unique joys to look forward to in each stage of your life. "When you're 18, middle age is like a foreign country. It's so far away from you. But, you know, when you arrive in that country, you realize that country has great things. Maybe you like that country better than the country you left behind."

It's inspiring to see how accepting Mirren is about aging, particularly in an industry that is so image-obsessed. As she bluntly explained to Allure, "You die young or you get old. There's nothing in between. And I never wanted to die young. I'm too curious about life; I want to see what happens next!"