At 79, Helen Mirren Leans Into the ‘Constant Learning Curve’ of Life

Your work has taken you around the world, but is there someplace you haven’t been that you’d still like to visit?

Lots of places. My husband [director Taylor Hackford, 80] and I keep saying “We have got to travel.” We have a beautiful house in Italy and we spend a lot of our downtime in Italy, but in a way that has stopped us from traveling, and I really want to travel some more. I have traveled a lot in my life. I used to always say “I live in Seat 3A of United Airlines.” I’m sort of always going somewhere, but to travel just for ourselves would be great. I’d love to go to Thailand. Indonesia in general. I have been to China, but I’d love to go back to China.

Do you have any big plans this summer for your 80th birthday [July 26]?

No, I’m not into birthdays, honestly. I never have been. Being 79 and a half or 80 and three quarters, what’s the difference?

You are as busy as ever. Any plans to retire or slow down?

No, not really. With COVID and with the two strikes, the writers’ strike and the actors’ strike, we all slowed down for two or three years, actually. It was quite a long period of time where there was very little work for anyone. We were all finding other ways of being, if you like. And now, of course, coming out of that, it means that there’s a great demand out there probably for, as they say, product — I hate that word — for material. So there is a lot of work at the moment. But no, not particularly. I’m sure one day I’ll think, Ugh, I’ve had enough of this, but not yet!

Helen Mirren on “1923,” streaming on Paramount+.

Trae Patton/Paramount+

How do you spend your time when you aren’t working?

I like to do all kinds of things. I like to make clothes. I make them very badly, but I love to get on with my sewing machine and a lovely piece of fabric. I’ve inherited that from my mom, both my sewing machine and my love of fabrics. I do like to garden and love gardening. I like tending my compost heap. It’s one of my favorite things to do.

What’s your best sewing creation? Do you wear any of them?

I’m big into making skirts, but my sister bought me some fabric because she knows how much I like sewing, and she bought me this lovely piece of paisley cotton. And I’ve been looking at it for like two years, thinking, Oh God, I’ve got to get down to that. And she’s been needling me about it: “I gave you that fabric and you’ve never made anything with it.” So I finally got down to making something with it. I made myself a very nice sort of dressing gown. And it’s so nice, I'm going to be wearing it in my next movie, which I’m very happy about.

That’s exciting. Which movie?

It’s one that Kate Winslet is directing [for Netflix], called Goodbye June.

I’ll have to look for that dressing gown.

Yes. Look out for it. It’s blue paisley. And when you see it — That’s the one that she made.

Do you have any advice for the younger actors you spoke about — maybe something you’ve learned along the way that you wish you knew then?

Not necessarily. As you know, life is a constant learning curve. There’s no point in being a wise old person when you’re 16. It’s much better to be a 16-year-old when you’re 16. You don’t need the wisdom of the old when you’re 16. Just don’t jump into swimming pools that have no water in them. Don't jump into anything without knowing how deep the water is.

What’s different now when you go on set versus when you first started or even halfway through your career?

Oh, that’s a huge difference. Because now when I walk on a set, I know the territory. I know who everybody is, I know what they’re doing. I know how to handle the relationships. I know when to be quiet. I know when to speak up. A huge difference. It used to be that when I walked on a film set, I knew nothing. I didn’t know who anyone was, what they did. I found the film set intimidating, frightening. Now I love it. Now I enjoy it. I’m like a fish in water. I feel comfortable there. It used to really terrify me. Incidentally, it used to also be when I was 21, 22, 23, you walked on the set and there were like 150 men, and if you were lucky, one woman. In general, film crews have always treated me with great kindness. But it doesn’t stop you from feeling incredibly self-conscious and vulnerable.

Any regrets? Any “would’ve could’ve should’ve” in your career?

Absolutely, absolutely, no question. Many roles I turned down that I should have done, and I’m not going to tell you which ones they are, but there are at least three of those that it was foolish of me to turn down. And then some that were foolish of me to do, to accept. So there are plenty of regrets, but you can’t keep rehashing that. You have to forge forward.