'Female power looks like us': Helen Mirren, 71, stuns in chic black suit as she unveils new Pirelli calendar with Nicole Kidman, 49, and Uma Thurman, 46

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She is one of the faces of the Pirelli 2017 calendar - known for breaking the mould with their 2016 offering, shunning supermodels in favour of 'women of achievement'.

And Helen Mirren was in Paris on Tuesday promoting next year's edition, for which she has been photographed. 

Pirelli's 2017 calendar celebrates 'natural beauty and femininity' by showcasing some of Hollywood's most glamorous and mature stars - such as Mirren - alongside the likes of Nicole Kidman, Uma Thurman and Julianne Moore.

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'Female power looks like us': Helen Mirren, 71, showcases her flawless complexion and talks about 'real beauty' alongside Nicole Kidman, 49, and Uma Thurman, 46 in Paris

Speaking at the launch of the 44th edition of the calendar, which was shot by Peter Lindbergh, 71-year-old Mirren joked about her expectations for the shoot.

'I thought they'd give me a black leotard or bikini and make my lie on a leopard print rug,' the movie star quipped. 'Peter [Lindbergh] makes it very loose, very organic, you don't even realise we're being shot.

'We've all got our slightly glazed eye red carpet poses, but it takes a great master like Peter to make you natural.'

Gushing about the 2017 edition, Mirren added that it should be used as a benchmark for young women.

Timeless: Helen Mirren was in Paris on Tuesday promoting next year's edition, for which she has been photographed

Beauty ambassadors: Pirelli's 2017 calendar celebrates 'natural beauty and femininity' by showcasing some of Hollywood's most glamorous and mature stars - such as Mirren - alongside Nicole Kidman, Uma Thurman and Julianne Moore

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Uma Thurman joined fellow actresses Nicole Kidman and Helen Mirren at the Pirelli Calendar launch photocall in Paris today, and the trio looked très chic in their all-black ensembles.

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'Beauty is as beauty does': Kill Bill star Thurman said that accepting yourself is the first step of real beauty

Role model: Thurman, 46, was also joined by Nicole Kidman, 49, who spoke of her own children Faith and Sunday, whom she has with husband Keith Urban

'My advice for young girls would be to look at the Pirelli calendar,' the actress said. 'The reality is we live, we love, we continue, we contribute and that's the role of women.

'It's incredibly challenging for young girls these days and we must remind them that life goes on for a long time and you'll be many things in that time.'

 

Co-participant Uma Thurman was also at the event.

Catching up: Veteran Hollywood stars Mirren and Kidman shared a joke at the event

Lovely ladies: Nicole Kidman, Uma Thurman and Helen Mirren attended the Pirelli Calendar launch photocall in Paris on Tuesday

High praise: Gushing about the 2017 edition, Mirren added that it should be used as a benchmark for young women

Empowered: Both Kidman and Thurman echoed this mantra, with the former saying: 'Female power is the courage to be yourself, to be able to walk into a room and be yourself'

'My mother used to say beauty is as beauty does and I think that's true,' the Kill Bill star recounted. 'Accepting yourself is the first step of real beauty. Rebellion is in that joy. Go girls!'

Thurman, 46, was also joined by Nicole Kidman, 49, who spoke of her own children Faith and Sunday, whom she has with husband Keith Urban.

'I'm raising daughters and I'm right in the thick of it,' she said of the girls who are five and eight, respectively. 'It's really hard to sum up what advice I would give in one sentence.

Ready for their close ups: The actresses showed off their natural beauty with just a smattering of makeup

Three's not a crowd: The talented ladies shared a chat and a giggle in front of the cameras

Time for a selfie? Dame Helen whipped out her phone to capture the glamour of the day

Matching: The three stars coordinated in chic, head-to-toe black ensembles for the photocall

'My mother always said don't let anyone break your spirit. When you're raising little girls it's important to show them how to build inside.'

Mirren - who never had children with her director husband Taylor Hackford -  went on to explain how photographer Lindbergh instructed his subjects to relax on set.

'He did a very clever thing and asked us to look at the last photographs of the last woman he shot, which opens your eyes to the talent he has,' she said. 'It immediately made me feel relaxed.'

Talent: Acclaimed photographer Peter Lindbergh captured the beauties for the beautiful calendar

Good to see you! An excited Uma blew kisses at the crowd before the group headed inside to talk about the venture

Always snapping! Lindbergh couldn't resist capturing some photos on his phone as they walked

Of womanly empowerment, she went on: 'Female power looks like us! It's a sense of variety, of adventure, of experimentation. It's a little girl skipping down the street, feeling free and optimistic.

'Things have changed in the last five years. This calendar is a clear manifestation of that change.'

The star of forthcoming holiday movie Collateral Beauty slammed techniques of airbrushing and Photoshopping, praising the Pirelli calendar for capturing people as 'simple, human and real'.

'We're used to such spectacular images with such amazing locations and lighting and airbrushing,' she said. 'This goes away from that. It re-educates the eyes away from altered images and takes you back to the simple truth of humanity.'

In coversation: Lindberg sat down with the three actresses to discuss their joint project

Drawing a crowd: The talented screen stars had their audience captivated

Time for a cheesy one! Dame Helen, Uma and Lindbergh made time for a fun shot at the end of the press conference 

Oh so chic: Dame Helen looked sensational in her classic suit and statement accessories

Both Kidman and Thurman echoed this mantra, with the former saying: 'Female power is the courage to be yourself, to be able to walk into a room and be yourself.'

The star of The Others added: 'I was the second to be shot. I've known Peter for so long and done so many shoots with him that he already had my trust. When he told me the different women he was shooting I was very honoured to be in that group.'

Thurman continued: 'It's beautiful. Peter wanted to free women from oppressive and false standards. Pirelli is making the move to natural empowered and free women which is wonderful.

Au natural: Thurman, 46, gazes steely-eyed down the lens whilst the extreme close-up shows off her breathtaking natural beauty

'Female power is endurance and solidarity. I was overjoyed to be asked.'

The Burnt actress, who has worked alongside the likes of Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson, went on to add how happy she was to be with Mirren and Kidman at the launch.

'It's an incredible honour to be sitting here between these two women,' she said. 'I have two daughters and a son and it's important for boys and girls to see their mother ageing and being herself.

'It is wonderful to see human empowerment opened up. Peter is the only person who ever gets pictures of me laughing.'

Lindbergh - the man who helmed the project - was also in attendance. 

Stripped back: Another snap from the series sees Nicole Kidman, 49, who is seen in just a white vest, cradling her knees whilst her locks are swept into a bun

Natural beauty: The 44th edition of the Pirelli calendar , which was shot Peter Lindbergh, features 14 internationally renowned actresses, including Julianne Moore, 55, and Robin Wright, 50

Of the calendar's concept, he said: 'There's a terror surrounding perfection and youth. It was a dangerous ideal for me to have. It was very risky but I wanted to avoid manipulating the pictures.

'Your thoughts and your experiences make you look the way you look. If you accept yourself there's no way you can't be beautiful.'

He concluded by providing his take on the modern idea of sex and glamour: 'Now we are in a really good place. I'm not fond of high heels and bikinis. That to me is not sexy.'

Completing the star-studded calendar line-up is Jessica Chastain, 39, Penelope Cruz, 42, Rooney Mara, 31, Lupita Nyong’o, 33, Charlotte Rampling, 70, Lea Seydoux, 31, Alicia Vikander, 28, Kate Winslet, 41, and Zhang Ziyi, 37.     

Lending her support: Clare Balding also popped in to the event for the calendar, which is available now