How we won war of the close-ups! After stunning portrait of Helen Mirren at 70, how Brits beat the US stars by NOT choosing the knife
- Dame Helen Mirren has maintained her radiant, natural beauty aged 70
- Actress spoke of the 'huge pressure' on young girls to look a certain way
- Mail on Sunday celebrates the British roses who have blossomed with age
- Compared to several American stars who use surgical enhancements
With her easy smile and the giveaway laughter lines of a life well-lived, Dame Helen Mirren maintains her radiant, natural beauty at the age of 70.
And speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday's You magazine, the actress says that a few crow's feet are nothing when combined with the self-confidence that can only come with advancing years.
'There's a huge pressure on young girls to look a certain way these days,' she says. 'But, as I age, I've lost that incredible insecurity of youth. It's great that the penny has finally dropped.'
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With her easy smile and the giveaway laughter lines of a life well-lived, Dame Helen Mirren maintains her radiant, natural beauty at the age of 70
Adding that women of her age will no longer 'sink into invisibility,' she adds: 'As I get older, I don't look as good, but I don't give a damn.'
Admitting that she is 'pretty laissez faire' about her beauty regime, she says: 'I climb on the bus and get snapped with no make-up on and I rarely go to the hairdresser's.' She adds that growing old is 'not for pussies' and says it takes courage to embrace your advancing years.
But her laid-back approach – and that of other British actresses – is in brutal contrast to American stars who take to surgical enhancement or treatments such as Botox to try to hold back the clock.
Here The Mail on Sunday celebrates the beautiful British roses who have blossomed with age, compared to the salutary lessons to be learned from their Hollywood counterparts.
THE UNBLEMISHED GRACEFUL ENGLISH ROSES AGEING NATURALLY...
DAME HELEN MIRREN, 70: Best known for playing the Queen, Dame Helen, who turned 70 in July, tells You magazine she's 'laissez faire' about her beauty regime, and will go out without make-up
HONOR BLACKMAN, 90 (LEFT): The former Bond actress still gets plenty of male attention - understandably - but says that most men her age are 'doddery old bores'. JOANNA LUMLEY, 69 (RIGHT): Lumley shuns surgery, saying: 'They are not going to cast me as a 35-year-old - there are 35-year-olds to do that'
JULIE WALTERS, 65 (LEFT): 'Age gives you permission to be who you are,' she says. 'That's liberating.' DAME JUDI DENCH, 80 (RIGHT): Always elegant, from 007's boss to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
JANE SEYMOUR, 64 (LEFT): Jane says: 'I'm proud of my wrinkles, they give my face character.' CHARLOTTE RAMPLING, 69 (RIGHT): Actress still lands sensuous roles - and says it is because she looks natural
...AND ODDLY SMOOTH HOLLYWOOD STARS LOOKING WEARY FROM 'WORK'
UMA THURMAN, 45: With her face looking frozen smooth, and unable to muster all but the thinnest smile, the actress has denied rumours she's had work done
GOLDIE HAWN, 69 (LEFT): She was ageless in Death Becomes Her - but not in real life. MELANIE GRIFFITH, 58 (RIGHT): Star has an off 'trout pout' after too many procedures
KIM NOVAK, 82 (LEFT): The star of Hitchcock's Vertigo was mocked for her looks at the 2014 Oscars. MEG RYAN, 53 (RIGHT): The When Harry Met Sally star looks like she's faked more than an orgasm
DOLLY PARTON, 69: Defiant singer has previously claimed: 'I'll always do nips and tucks'
DARYL HANNAH, 54: She's not admitted surgery, but Splash star looks about as natural as a mermaid...
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