Forget nubile flesh, the new Pirelli calendar claims to show older beauties as they really are. Pull the other bingo wing, says Libby Purves
- The Pirelli calendar features a host of A-list women of a certain age
- Includes Nicole Kidman, 49, Charlotte Rampling, 70 and Helen Mirren, 71
- Libby Purves says it merely serves to make all mere mortal women feel less graceful, less well-preserved and more dragged about by life
During our youth the tanned, pouting, naked Pirelli girls of the famous calendars made us feel inferior and dissatisfied with our really quite reasonable bodies and faces.
What a contrast to this year’s issue, which features a host of A-list women of a certain age, from 49-year-old Nicole Kidman to 71-year-old Helen Mirren and 70-year-old Charlotte Rampling.
The pictures are beautifully shot, of course, and artfully lit, and are presented as a feminist triumph, with photographer Peter Lindbergh saying: ‘In a time when women are represented...as ambassadors of perfection and youth I thought it was important to remind everyone that there is a different beauty.’
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This year’s Pirelli calendar features a host of A-list women of a certain age, including 49-year-old Nicole Kidman
Actress Uma Thurman, 46, also features in the calendar. Discussing the shot she explained photographer Peter Lindbergh 'wanted to free women from false standards'
Helen Mirren, 71, and Kate Winslet, 41, appear in the pictures shot in black and white
But, in truth, however, they merely serve to make all us mere mortal women feel less graceful, less well-preserved, more dragged about by life and motherhood.
We are on trial, all over again.
Women in the new calendar sprawl part-clad in sweaters or stretch beautifully, the photographer catching those moments of ageless grace.
There are bare arms and legs on show – but shot in monochrome, so never mottled or age-spotted.
Even worse, Lindbergh and the stars of the campaign all proudly boast about the fact that all the images are unretouched – no matter that Lindbergh shot around 30,000 images in total to get these ‘natural’ shots.
Women in the new calendar stretch beautifully, with the photographer catching these moments of ageless grace, says Libby Purves. Pictured is 50-year-old Robin Wright
Actress Julianne Moore, 55, also features in this year's Pirelli calendar
Indeed the stars of the new calendar claim to be trying to free women from the ‘false standards’ of modern beauty.
‘Peter is truly interested in capturing women, who they really are. Seeing their age, seeing the lines, the veins on the backs of the hands, their little crow’s feet. Absolutely everything,’ said Kate Winslet.
Winslet apparently insisted on her ageing hands being shown in the shoot. For the record, Winslet’s hands are as smooth as the proverbial baby’s bottom.
This, of course, isn’t the first Pirelli calendar to try to make a political statement with its pictures.
The Pirelli calendar used to feature younger models in provocative poses, including Lily Cole and Kate Moss
Other models to have starred in the famous calendar include Heidi Klum in 2003 and Naomi Campbell in 2005
Last year’s, shot by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, celebrated women of achievement – including comedian Amy Schumer and tennis player Serena Williams.
This year’s new Pirelli calendar is certainly beautiful, and there is a seductive ring in the photographer’s mission to show unretouched ‘real women... another kind of naked, more important than body parts.
‘What is more than being naked is to show yourself the way you are.’
Robin shows off her physique in the stunning series of black and white images
Charlotte Rampling is seen striking a pose in this behind the scenes shot from the shoot
But hang on. The way they are happens to be slender, beautiful in the bones, and accustomed to cameras and poses: these, after all, are women who have long used their physicality as a tool of their screen or public image.
There can be no glimpse of the spreading thigh, the sagging front, the bingo wing, the jowls which, without surgery, generally move in the bull-mastiff direction. In women we love – mothers, grannies, favourite old teachers – these things, too, are beautiful.
But they won’t be shown on a calendar. Not ever.
The actresses all looked delighted to be working with photographer Lindberg
Wrapped up: Dame Helen let out a big laugh as she wrapped up in between takes on set
Nicole Kidman, Uma Thurman and Helen Mirren attended the Pirelli Calendar launch photocall in Paris on Tuesday as they discussed the theme of this year's offering
Hollywood's heavyweights Nicole Kidman, Uma Thurman and Helen Mirren came together to shun unrealistic beauty standards and discuss female empowerment
Nicole, Uma and Helen positively glowed as they posed for pics with Peter Lindbergh and CEO Pirelli Group Marco Tronchetti Provera
Ready for their close ups: The actresses showed off their natural beauty with just a smattering of makeup
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