Quotes from Helen Mirren

We're all idiots when we're young. We don't think we are, but we are. So we should be.

I'm not an impersonator. I'm a lousy impersonator, actually.

Girls go out together to see a chick flick or something. I loathe, I hate, chick flicks.

At the time of the Silver Jubilee, I was a grumpy anti-monarchist. I didn't celebrate and was appalled by the celebrations. In my idiocy, I missed out! I feel completely differently now compared with that time.

It was never my intention to marry anybody. Economics are basically the only reason to get married, but I'm very glad I did it.

I can't say 'no' to an interesting role. I always tell my husband, 'That's it, I quit, I've done all I wanted,' and he's just like, 'Yeah, yeah. Sure.'

Any role that's proactive is a great role, and action roles are by their very nature proactive. You get to do stuff. I hate sitting in a corner - I'd much prefer an action role in a popcorn movie rather than pining in a corner not doing anything.

I love photography, and I love the art of photography.

I love that country [Israel].

I'm not strong-willed actually. I'm a complete pushover. I love to be told what to do.

I always love working with young actors, because there's always something to learn. It's always exciting to see the next generation and how they approach things and what's great about them and what's not so great about them.

The poor Oscars - they always get slammed in the press.

I've always been battling against my sense of dignity and refinement. I was embarrassed by any bodily functions when I was younger. I could never even blow my nose.

There's a scary moment when you realise you're no longer the youngest person in the room. Especially if you've been a successful young person. That's followed, of course, by the realisation that you're actually the oldest person in the room.

I don't believe that if you do good, good things will happen. Everything is completely accidental and random. Sometimes bad things happen to very good people and sometimes good things happen to bad people. But at least if you try to do good things, then you're spending your time doing something worthwhile.

I think still it is very fine not to want children. There are far too many people in the world. It is my contribution to ecology.

I believe that if you want to go make your mark on the world you've got to go out and do it. Don't be shy, be adventurous.

As an actor, those are the roles that you long for. You always want something that's going to kick your last role out of the water and put you off on a new path.

I can't help being Christian because I was brought up in Britain, and the morality of Christianity is part of the fabric of this country.

There's nothing sexy about doing a nude scene. It's rather uncomfortable. I like dressing up rather than dressing down.

The control and understanding of our personal fears is one of the most important undertakings of our lives.

The role of women has always been undervalued in the spy world, always undermined in terms of recognition. Unfairly so. It's a world that needs women.

Women have got to stop being polite. If I ever had children, which I don't, the first thing I'd teach a girl of mine is the words 'f - off.'

I love men that love women. Morgan Freeman, who I worked with on 'RED,' was very flattering to me. But he is flattering to all women. He is a woman-charmer.