Helen Mirren: ‘I don’t think my husband ever makes me feel beautiful, it’s not necessary’

Helen Mirren stars with Harrison Ford in the newest Yellowstone spinoff, 1923 Yellowstone. I haven’t caught Yellowstone fever yet but I want to see Harrison and Helen together again so I intend to check it out. They were electric in The Mosquito Coast. Helen’s been giving interviews to magazines like AARP and People to promote 1923 Yellowstone and they’re asking her about her amazing career and famous boyfriends. I knew she’d worked with Peter O’Toole but I didn’t know she dated him. If I had a time machine, I’d make a play for Peter O’Toole. I’d regret it, but I have a bagful of men I regret already, why not land a lion? Anyway, Helen didn’t dish too much about Peter, she spoke more about Liam Neeson with whom she lived for four years and still adores, even if they weren’t meant to be. And, of course, her husband of 25 years, Taylor Hackford. When People asked her how Taylor makes her feel beautiful, Helen said he doesn’t, because it’s not necessary.

On Liam Neeson: We were not meant to be together in that way, but we loved each other very, very much. I love him deeply to this day. He’s such an amazing guy. We didn’t date, we lived together for four years — we were a serious item for a while. Lucky me!

On how Taylor Hackford makes her feel beautiful: Oh, he doesn’t! I don’t think he ever makes me feel beautiful. It’s not necessary. That’s not what I love him for, honestly.

On the pandemic: I’ve worked every year since I was 20. COVID was the first time in the whole of my life I’ve not worked for six months.

[So many people] were suffering through that terrible, terrible time, but what was valuable for me was that I got to spend time with my husband and sit across the table from him every night for six months — which I’ve never done before — and not worry about or even think about work.

[From Yahoo!]

I went back and forth with Helen’s comments about Taylor not making her feel beautiful. I love that she said them, but I was trying to think if I would give the same answer. Ultimately, I would. My husband tells me I’m beautiful often. And I feel beautiful around him. But Helen’s right, that’s a me thing. I’m responsible for that, not him. Like Helen, we appreciate our husbands sharing their thoughts with us, but we own how we project ourselves.

More specific to Helen – she is correct that it’s not necessary. She’s Helen Mirren, who the hell doesn’t know she’s beautiful?

I understand what Helen said about the pandemic. I know it’s hard to put a positive spin on that period but it’s like the families who had babies during the pandemic and were able to stay home with them in a way they wouldn’t have otherwise. Silver lining and all that. Since Helen is probably facing the idea of slowing down in her career, being able to preview it must have been good for her.


Photo credit: AARP and Cover Images

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20 Responses to “Helen Mirren: ‘I don’t think my husband ever makes me feel beautiful, it’s not necessary’”

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  1. MaryContrary says:

    I guess I feel the same: my husband tells me I’m beautiful, but how I actually feel about myself comes from inside me. If I’m not feeling it and he says it, it doesn’t register. If I’m feeling it already-it’s great to hear but doesn’t “make me “ see it anymore or less.

  2. Lolo86lf says:

    I don’t understand why some people straight or gay feel that their partner has to constantly tell them that they are beautiful. We all should have self awareness and accept the way we look and try to improve ourselves as realistically as possible.

    • North of Boston says:

      I’m guessing that for many different reasons (bad prior relationships, experiences earlier in life, innate insecurities about appearance), for some people, “should have” and “has” are not the same thing.

      Sure that’s something for them to work on if that’s the case , but in the meantime, positive and kind words from those they hold dear can help them begin to develop a more positive view of their appearance.

    • C says:

      That’s easy to say but from birth people are criticized for every aspect of their appearance for various economic and sociopolitical reasons. Weren’t you on here saying women should look womanly the other day?

    • Green Desert says:

      Some people are “words of affirmation” people – they need to be told those things. And that’s okay. That’s probably not Helen’s love language, which I can relate to as it’s last for me. My husband likes to dole out the affirmations and even after 20-something years together I get uncomfortable with the compliments and praise, haha. But now it’s our thing – he goes over the top on purpose and I act really grossed out. Whatever works lol.

    • Barbiem says:

      I love being told im beautiful and I require a husband that compliments me regularly. Lol… I dont require much but I like verbal and physical affection

  3. chill says:

    My husband has told me I look great (not beautiful) a hand full of times. It is not his style to compliment. No one in his family does. However, like Helen, I don’t need it. I am happy with myself and get my self esteem from me. My husband has many fine qualities and is loving and kind. I don’t need something he cannot give. Would it be nice? Yes, but not necessary.

  4. North of Boston says:

    Whatever makes up their relationship is fine by me. If they are both happy it’s all good.

    Also, with Helen, I remind myself she’s been an actress and in the public eye for decades. She’s been dealing with what other people think of her appearance and their comments about it her entire career, eg that interview from the 70’s where the sexist dolt of a host started talking about the size of her breasts. She didn’t just hatch out of an egg 10 years ago as a fully formed silver haired queen. So I’m guessing she’s developed her own sense of her physical presence, presentation, beauty and her own sense of self worth outside of all that.

  5. dlc says:

    I’ve never seen mosquito coast and now I’m curious!

  6. ooshpick says:

    What if you’re not beautiful? What if you’re just a normal person in the world who is so many other important and wonderful things….

    • antipodean says:

      @ooshpick, I really appreciate your comment! I have never been what the world could consider beautiful, but have always put more store in my inner life, brightness, and intelligence. I am probably considered “attractive”, and do try to keep myself neat, tidy, and healthy. It has stood me in good stead as I have aged, and I now couldn’t give a continental what the world has to say about how I look. It must be so difficult for those whose livelihood relies on their physical presence, but in the end we all have to face ourselves in the mirror, and we are the harshest judges. Who says women have to remain sexually appealing throughout their lives, and why do we continue to buy into that myth? Being ordinary and normal does not exclude being important, wonderful, and unique. Especially to those we love, and who love us!

    • Aurora says:

      This. Even in true crime shows, people would talk about a murdered woman like: ‘Oh she didn’t deserve to die… She was so gorgeous, bubbly, funny, etc’. (So… Is it ok to murder a bookworm, or someone who’s just not pretty? 🙄) I need that my husband’s actions show that he chooses me, that he respects and value me, that I set a bar for him, that we have each other’s back. I don’t want him to lie! I know I’m not beautiful! You know what I appreciate? When he just so casually tells me he’s proud of having me in his life. When people tell me he’s used me as an example when he wants to convey an anecdote about high human qualities. When he brought me flowers and took me on a date the day after having scrubbed my (food poisoning) puke off our bathroom walls. Eish I’m 50 and I haven’t lived so far on the need for others to find me good looking.

    • Abbie says:

      The only enlightened sane comment, thank you.
      If being beautiful is the ultimate goal in life for some people then I pity them, what a waste of your time on earth.

  7. MissMarirose says:

    What strikes me about her pandemic comment is that she started out by acknowledging that so many other people were suffering during that time period.

    Think about it. How many other celebrities have acknowledged that when asked a similar question? I think that speaks very highly of Helen Mirren.

  8. SquiddusMaximus says:

    My goodness, what class! If only I had a shred of her grace and could say, “How lucky was I to have spent that time with Ex #1/#2/#3, etc.” with a straight face.

    I already insulted one ex boyfriend this morning, and it’s not even 10AM.

  9. meli says:

    The best a partner has made me feel is when we’ve engaged and connected as two human beings. Talking, sharing music, sharing ideas, and perspectives etc.
    External beauty had nothing to do with it.

  10. Elsa says:

    My husband tells me I’m beautiful every day of my life. I like it.

  11. DouchesOfCambridge says:

    My husband doesnt necessarily do anything to make me feel beautiful, but I’m lucky enough to get a thousand kisses and a thousand I love you’s everyday. So I feel loved to no end, and my own vanity takes care of how I feel about my beauty.

  12. Mrs.Krabapple says:

    She is extremely talented. But since this is a “bitchy” website, I have to ask — what has she done to her face? That is so unfortunate.

  13. Isa says:

    My husband will randomly tell me I’m beautiful and it’s always when I feel ugly. I don’t actually believe him, but it makes me feel really loved. Like he loves me so much he sees me through rose tinted glasses, because let me tell you, my skin ain’t pretty.