Helen Mirren Says Hands Off

Although she stated that, “when you’re young, you want a guy to take your hand and look after you”, she stresses the fact that this gesture is demeaning in nature.

In a tell-all interview with Mail on Sunday You magazine, the talented actress and style icon revealed her irritation at seeing men try to claim women as their property.

Mirren speculated to the mag that women still allow themselves this submissive behavior because ultimately, young 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”.

“This is happening in our name and what I’m so proud about the movie – about Gavin’s way of approaching the subject – is it’s so nuanced; that the morality in that story, any one of us would sit here going: ‘I don’t know”.

Discussing what advice she would give to her younger self, Mirren added: “it would be to use the words “f*** off” more frequently”. While Mirren and Rickman bring a certain gravitas to their roles, the film fares best during scenes featuring Abdi as a Somalian spy working for Kenyan Special Forces. I waft in and out, and I think they understand that I’m not the normal sort of grandmother. “Then they were asked about their parents’ sex lives – and oh, they were horrified!” she said. It’s ridiculous. Honestly, it’s so annoying.

“Women of my age are financially secure, with the disposable income – and the desire – to buy beauty products, not just sink into invisibility”, she said.

“It’s great that the penny has finally dropped”, she said.

I think marrying late is a very good idea – it worked out for me.