Helen Mirren’s secret to red carpet success? Stripper heels

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It’s pretty much common knowledge that Helen Mirren is the coolest Dame around (sorry, Judy Dench). She always looks great, she has Russell Brand worshiping at her feet, and occasionally she says some dingbat stuff that makes you wonder if she’s sniffing glue.

But how can you stay mad at a 65-year-old woman who says her secret to red-carpet success is stripper heels?

My red-carpet secret is…The stripper shoes I buy on Hollywood Boulevard: 10-inch heels with 5-inch platforms. They make your legs look wonderful.

If I weren’t acting…I’d be a hairdresser. I have a bit of a Delilah complex. I love to cut people’s hair! Unfortunately my husband won’t let me cut his.

I would love to work with…Quentin Tarantino. He is a superb filmmaker, visceral and fantastic. The two Kill Bill films were brilliant.

I am most afraid of…Plastic bottles. Their proliferation is terrifying. They won’t go away, and people are not getting the message. We’re destroying the bloody planet!

My style icon is…Helena Bonham Carter. She’s unique, bohemian, and inventive. I also love Lady Gaga’s radical use of fashion.

My biggest splurge is…an old farmhouse in southern Italy that my husband and I are renovating. That’s one reason why I buy drugstore makeup — I spend $5 on mascara and $5 million on a ruin!

Crowning glory…When I was first nominated for an Oscar, I made the mistake of treating it like a British wedding and thought a hat appropriate. Still, I think it’s sad that Americans don’t wear hats!

[InStyle, print edition, January 2011]

How cool would it be to see Helen Mirren as Lady Gaga in “The Lady Gaga Story,” directed by Quentin Tarantino and co-starring Helena Bonham Carter as Katy Perry? Russell Brand could play himself. Until then, I guess we’ll have to settle for Helen and Russell in the Arthur remake, which I also think is brilliant casting.

Note by CB: We couldn’t actually find any photos of Helen wearing said stripper heels. She’s talked about this before, and Kaiser and I think that she just means regular high heels. She’s a strange one.

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28 Responses to “Helen Mirren’s secret to red carpet success? Stripper heels”

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  1. Rita says:

    Something tells me she’d be a lot of fun to get wasted with (her and happygirl).

  2. brin says:

    She’s awesome!! So talented, classy, funny….hope I look half as good as her at 65!

  3. Lynnie says:

    Gorgeous and fun!

  4. Vee says:

    I want to be her when I’m 65. She is spectacular in all regards, I’m just in awe!

  5. Lucy says:

    Love her everyday even more!!!

  6. Green Is Good says:

    Helen just keeps getting more fabulous in personality and looks! Love her and her acting talent.

  7. Motor35 says:

    has anyone actually *seen* her in these stripper shoes she speaks of?

  8. TXCinderella says:

    Russell Brand should play Charles Manson in a movie. Helen, you are one classy dame!

  9. Zombie Nurse says:

    Scew wanting to be her when I’m 65. I want to be her now

  10. beth says:

    this will be me, at 65. And at 105. 🙂

  11. Hautie says:

    Actually I believe she did walk a red carpet a few years back in those tragically tacky platforms.

    The ones with the clear platform.

    Straight up stripper heels.

    I suspect as much as she loves them, they are not made for walking great distances in.

    Edited to add this link:
    blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2007/02/helens-stripper.html

    dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-482196/Helen-Mirren-wins-Emmy–thanks-strippers-shoes.html

  12. Attagirl says:

    She is just such a sexy beast….this is how women should age.

  13. Lori says:

    She’s had some work done, but it’s good work and she looks fabulous and sexy. Go Helen!!

  14. Sunnyjyl says:

    She’s a hoot. It is sad that americans don’t wear hats at formal events. It would be such fun.

  15. Bodhi says:

    I also think its sad that Americans don’t wear hats! Anyway… she is just so cool…

  16. I Choose Me says:

    Google Queen here. Found pics of Helen in stripper heels for ya CB. 😀

    http://www.shoewawa.com/2007/09/do_you_have_luc.html

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-482196/Helen-Mirren-wins-Emmy–thanks-strippers-shoes.html

    Edit: Aw, Hautie beat me to it.

  17. KLO says:

    All her dresses are SO flattering. She has big breasts and a big bum and still she can dress sharp. Awesome!

  18. Fire says:

    crushing hard on her in that red dress! FAB!!

  19. C-DUB says:

    Work it Helen! She looks great!

  20. Lydia says:

    Still remember that bikini shot of her a while back. She is HOT!

  21. LolaBella says:

    Love Helen! She’s a phenomenal actress and classy as hell.

    My favorite movie of hers to this day is Gosford Park.

    Also, this woman has an amazing body and knows how to dress it!

    Look at her in a bikini two years ago at 63!

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1035510/Helen-Mirren-bikini-queen-reigns-supreme-63.html

  22. sapphire says:

    I have got a total girlcrush on her-let’s go have a cocktail and listen to her stories!

  23. kiko says:

    helen is a damn goddess!!

  24. Liana says:

    Just love this woman. I think she’s a wonderfully few sandwiches short of a picnic and is hilarious most of the time.

  25. happygirl says:

    RITA!! AW!! **Hugest smile on face!** You absolutely rock 🙂 (I’m toasting you as I write!) Well…I’m so happy now that I will NOT be having nightmares of Jessica Simpson’s leggings, but now, rather, sweet dreams of you, me, & Helen livin’ it up 😉 Cheers!!

  26. fizXgirl314 says:

    I think she’s probably kidding… 10 inch heels probably don’t exist… at least not for walking…

  27. dweeb says:

    she looks fantastic….

  28. Lo says:

    if youre looking for stripper shoes pics, try earlier pics like the emmy’s on 2006. which is why she makes the comment in her emmy speech how her “greatest achievement is not falling arse over tit” walking up the steps. she only wears the stripper shoes if her gown is to the ground (and no slits to show them)