My Life In Beauty With Helen Mirren

The Le Défilé message of 'walking your worth' is such an important one, but some women might find it difficult to find that self-confidence. Was there a turning point or an age in your life when you discovered your own self-worth? 

Yes, probably in my late fifties, which is actually a very difficult time for women. One of the issues a lot of women talk about through their fifties is that they feel they've become invisible and, funnily enough, one of the very first ads I did for L'Oréal Paris was dealing with that exact issue – how to stop feeling invisible.

It’s an era when you have to let go of some things from your past – things like youth and beauty, a certain kind of energy and a certain kind of ambition in your career. By the time you're in your mid-fifties, all of that is settled into something and you have to recognise that; then you have to understand that you can go on from there, and that there are interesting and exciting times ahead. 

You’re currently backstage at the L'Oréal show as part of Paris Fashion Week. What’s the atmosphere like?

Well, it's very hard work backstage! It’s that classic fashion thing. I mean, it's so exciting, I have to say. People are running backwards and forwards, and clothes are being taken out and delivered, something’s too long, too short! And the jewellery and the hair and the make-up… It’s absolutely wonderful, wonderful chaos. There is no time, quite honestly, for fun. There's no sitting around with glasses of champagne or anything like that – how disappointing! 

As a model, I do have a little bit of input, and I often have an idea of how I want to look. Sometimes I want to look very extreme and, at other times, I'd like to look quite natural, but I never put my foot down and say, I must have this! That's not my style, ever, because I always think other people may have better ideas.