Helen Mirren has certainly captivated audiences worldwide with her over five decades-long career in acting, praised for her graceful aging and authenticity.
Initially embarking on her journey in theatre, Mirren joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, progressing to her West End debut in 1975.
It was not until she was 35 years old that Mirren became widely recognized, thanks to her performance in ‘The Long Good Friday’ (1980), where she starred alongside Bob Hoskins.
Mirren, focusing predominantly on her flourishing career, did not prioritize marriage or motherhood until she met Taylor Hackford, the US film director who would later become her husband.
“I was 38 when I met Taylor, quite late in life,” she shared in a 2016 AARP interview, highlighting the director’s initial professional blunder during their first meeting which later blossomed into a romantic relationship.
Sharing common working-class roots and a passion for travel, Mirren and Hackford found much in common. She admired his dedication to parenting his children from previous relationships, which only deepened her affection for him.
The couple tied the knot in 1997, confident in their lifelong commitment after over a decade together.
The infamous swimsuit photo
In 2008, a seemingly ordinary day at the beach led to unexpected viral fame for Mirren. Her husband captured a photograph of her in a swimsuit, which, unbeknownst to them, was clicked at just the right moment making it an internet sensation.
Despite her initial shock and belief the photo was taken by a paparazzo, the image turned out to be a natural and flattering shot which garnered widespread attention and admiration.
Mirren humorously commented on the photo years later on Ellen DeGeneres’s talk show, mentioning, “I look at that picture and say, god, I wish I looked like that. But I don’t.”
Reflecting on her appearance in the image before her 68th birthday in 2014, Mirren told People magazine, “The truth is I don’t really look that good, it was just a flattering picture. I am beyond the bikini-wearing age, really. I look like a woman in her 60s. I’ve always looked awful in a bikini, even when I was young.”
