306 Quotes by Helen Mirren

There’s a scary moment when you realise you’re no longer the youngest person in the room. Especially if you’ve been a successful young person. That’s followed, of course, by the realisation that you’re actually the oldest person in the room.

It’s very easy to just shout: ‘Off with their heads!’ Maybe in doing that you might lose something very valuable. I would like to see the monarchy continue, but in a more democratic fashion.

When you’re 16, you think 28 is so old! And then you get to 28 and it’s fabulous. You think, then, what about 42? Ugh! And then 42 is great. As you reach each age, you gain the understanding you need to deal with it and enjoy it.

Wherever I am in the world, if I get free time when I’m filming I always hire a car, take to the road, drive for miles and explore.

I don’t think there’s anything on this planet that more trumpets life that the sunflower. For me that’s because of the reason behind its name. Not because it looks like the sun but because it follows the sun. During the course of the day, the head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky. A satellite dish for sunshine. Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it. And that’s such an admirable thing. And such a lesson in life.

The role of women has always been undervalued in the spy world, always undermined in terms of recognition. Unfairly so. It’s a world that needs women.

I always love working with young actors, because there’s always something to learn. It’s always exciting to see the next generation and how they approach things and what’s great about them and what’s not so great about them.

I’ve always been battling against my sense of dignity and refinement. I was embarrassed by any bodily functions when I was younger. I could never even blow my nose.

I believe kids shouldn’t be taught Shakespeare. They should experience it first by seeing a great production.