Helen Mirren Wishes She Wasn't So Polite at a Younger Age

Helen Mirren grabs hold of a man’s tattooed arm while posing for the cover of Allure‘s September 2017 issue, on newsstands August 22.

Here is what the Oscar-winning actress had to share with the mag:

On her advice for her younger self: It’d be to say “F–k off” more and stop being so “bloody polite… In those days, you had to. It’s hard to explain how difficult it is to overcome the culture. You become a voice in the wilderness. No one wants to listen.”

On feminism: “I wasn’t into the very didactic feminism of the ’60s and ’70s because I liked wearing makeup and high heels. That was a no-no. It was sort of ‘That’s playing to the patriarchy.’ I was thinking, Well, I just really like it. Then as feminism developed, they realized you can like nice dresses, high-heeled shoes, and makeup. That’s not stopping you from being feminist.”

On being starstruck: “Oh, I’m always starstruck any time I meet a movie star. I’m paralyzed. I say, ‘Right, Helen, just be natural; just be yourself. Don’t talk too much; don’t stare.’ I have to give myself all these instructions.”

On why she’d never shame anyone for getting a nip or needle prick: “Anyone should be able to do what they want. If they look in the mirror and go, ‘I look good’ and go out in a positive way—I don’t want anyone to feel miserable.”

FYI: Helen is wearing a Carmen March dress and Lady Grey earrings on the cover.

For more from Helen, visit Allure.com!