By BR Kellie
I love a good brand ambassador. Ellen DeGeneres gave Covergirl instant adorable quirk. Gwen Stefani as Revlon's ambassador gave the company an instant hit of cool. But my favourite of them all? Dame Helen Mirren for L'Oréal. The woman is a legend. Not only are her acting chops out of this world - her performances wowing on stage, on the small screen and the silver screen. She also strikes me as one of life's good people. There's a certain je ne sais quoi about her that means every time I see an article or a YouTube clip featuring her I must watch it. So in a full on fan-girl moment I've narrowed down my top three reasons why I love Helen Mirren.
Reason un:
She's a brand ambassador who calls it like she sees it - even if it might be to the detriment of the brand she works for. It was reported that on a L'Oréal panel recently she said, “I’m an eternal optimist - I know that when I put my moisturiser on it probably does f*** all, but it just makes me feel better." Career suicide? Perhaps not, as she followed it up with... "I’ve always said to L’Oréal as well that I will only do what makes me feel better.”
While some might say she did the brand a disservice, I think she just said what a bunch of us think. I'm a fan of moisturising. Love it. Do it religiously. And like Helen I have those moments where I wonder if it's doing anything, but then I think, better to do it then not do it and find out. Besides, the pampering aspect makes me feel good. And if you feel good, you look good. Whatever your age.
Reason deux:
She doesn't let age, or what society may expect of people of a certain age, dictate how she lives. She's talked about being a naturist and how freeing it is to go naked, on the beach or in a Korean bath in LA. In this L'Oréal video she talks about feminity and how budding beauty transforms to a wise and powerful femininity as time passes. She doesn't hide her body in high-necks and baggy clothing. She rocks the red carpet in gorgeous gowns, she wears a bikini with aplomb. She's proof getting old doesn't mean you have to act it.
Reason trois:
She doesn't give two hoots. She swears on the regular. In interviews. On live television crosses. She's talked about her husband still wanting to make sweet sweet love to her (she used another word, not dissimilar to the word she used while talking on the L'Oréal panel) after she played the Queen. In 1975 she had no problem pulling up Michael Parkinson when he got all sexist in an interview. She's not going to cover up because she's of 'an age'. She's going to be who she is, and the world can think what they think and that's their problem, not hers.
And that's why I love Dame Helen Mirren. No matter your age or your stage she's an inpiration, who shows us living life on your own terms, being who you are and being good with that offers fulfillment and freedom and happiness.
Oh. I'm going to add in a fourth reason...
Quatre:
She pronounces French in a way my ham-tongued self can only dream of. Watch. And admire. Swooooooon.
I love her,she is just so REAL and down to earth and speaks her mind and she is a reminder to all of us older ladies...age is just a number and you can do or wear what ever the hell you please