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Honored Contributor
Posts: 15,628
Registered: ‎01-06-2015

Helen Mirren Runs Barefoot Down Paris Runway

 

Read this on the Vogue site. The picture makes me smile, I just love her.

 

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On an early fall evening, Helen Mirren threw on a flowing Giambattista Valli gown and bounded barefoot through the courtyard of the Monnaie de Paris, the French government institution off the Left Bank of the Seine. If you know anything about Mirren, you know that it could be just another Saturday night for the dame. But the occasion of the night’s escapades just happened to be L’Oréal Paris’s third annual Le Défilé show. With a magnetic joie de vivre, the 74-year-old Oscar-winning actress joined Camila Cabello, Amber Heard, Andie McDowell, and Eva Longoria in leading an inclusive model lineup spanning age, backgrounds, and body types as a 40-musician orchestra soundtracked the open-air runway to powerful effect.

 

“If it was just me in a show, it would be, ‘Oh, what an amazing novelty that they have a really old woman walking!’—and I wouldn’t feel so good about that,” laughed Mirren backstage ahead of the show, where makeup artist Val Garland encased her blue gaze with flicks of winged liner and iridescent gems. “But here we are, a whole, diverse group of sizes, shapes, genders, and races. We’re making a statement about inclusivity of the family of L’Oreal and I think that’s a great message and I’m happy to be a part of it.” After a short pause, she added: “I just hope I don’t fall over!” An understandable fear in front of a six-hundred person crowd with Naomi Campbell amongst its front row, it proved, unsurprisingly, to be a non-issue for Mirren. Not only is she an indomitable force by nature, she's always right at home in Paris. Mirren not only speaks French fluidly (and mesmerizingly accent-free), but early on her career, she lived in the city for six months while doing experimental theater work.

 

“I had a single room without any running hot water,” she grinned. “When I needed a bath, a woman would have to literally fill a tub of hot water and I’d stand in a plastic bowl. It was bohemian! I’m so privileged to have had that experience in Paris.” And while Mirren was a self-proclaimed Francophile growing up “during the era of Francois Hardy and Brigitte Bardot,” it was as a transplant that she came to truly appreciate the French woman’s insouciant approach to fashion and beauty. “They take it for granted because it’s absolutely a part of life the same way that breakfast, or having a glass of wine with dinner is!” And ever the student of life, Mirren admits to unabashedly channeling la Parisienne. “When you’re walking on the streets of Paris, you see these women, not in their ‘20s, in their ‘40s or ‘50s, and everything about her is so cool and elegant,” she explained. “I follow them, studying them to discover what is it that makes them so great. Is it their hair? Is their shoes? Is is it way they tie scarf is? They’re just doing their thing and it’s absolutely natural.”

 

Whether it’s intentional or not, one thing that Mirren certainly shares with French women is aging on her own terms. “It’s much better to age disgracefully!” declared Mirren, bucking the expectations that come with being a woman of certain age. “Take it on the chin and roll with it. You die young or you get older. There is nothing in between! You may as well enjoy it.” Living life large no matter what age you are is a notion that has been ingrained in Mirren for decades. “My mother once said, ‘Never worry about getting older. I know the thought of you being 45 when you’re 25 is, ‘Oh my god! Who wants to be 45?’ But it’s amazing because when you get to be 45, you’ll realize it’s actually very cool and you don’t want to be 25 again,’’ she recalled. “And I have to say, she was absolutely right. With every age comes advantages and disadvantages. And you tend to find that you don’t want to go back. You want to be exactly where you are with everything you’ve experienced.”

It’s no wonder that Mirren—who wears python print and bubblegum pink hair with total aplomb—has become a symbol of all there is to look forward to as the years go on.

 

The latest case in point? Mirren was fresh off the set of Fast & Furious 9, also starring Charlize Theron and Vin Diesel, as evidenced by her glitter-tipped lilac gel manicure. “They’re my Fast & Furious nails!” Mirren replied after being complimented. “But I thought I’d keep them because they’re quite nice.” Continuing to live life large at a dizzying speed, 74 looks nothing short of aspirational on Mirren.

 
"You call him The Edge, I just call him The"
Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,733
Registered: ‎06-25-2014

Re: Helen Mirren Runs Barefoot Down Paris Runway

i just love her

Honored Contributor
Posts: 30,238
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: Helen Mirren Runs Barefoot Down Paris Runway

She looks amazing.

 

I did notice she has a huge bunion on her foot.  I have always been very careful to not get bunions.

 

But since my double knee replacement it threw off my gait a little.  I put bandaids on my foot to make sure ther isn’t pressure there.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 15,628
Registered: ‎01-06-2015

Re: Helen Mirren Runs Barefoot Down Paris Runway

I love the gown too, I think it's perfect for her. But after this I guess she can't wear it again 😦

 

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"You call him The Edge, I just call him The"
Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,295
Registered: ‎03-27-2010

Re: Helen Mirren Runs Barefoot Down Paris Runway

[ Edited ]

Love this...love her, lilac toe nails and all!

Valued Contributor
Posts: 750
Registered: ‎04-27-2015

Re: Helen Mirren Runs Barefoot Down Paris Runway

@Annabellethecat66 , sometimes you can be as careful as can be, but in many cases bunions are hereditary.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 24,685
Registered: ‎07-21-2011

Re: Helen Mirren Runs Barefoot Down Paris Runway

She is a strong woman.  Any woman that can proudly wear gray, white or salt & pepper hair is a strong woman.  She knows who she is.  I always liked Helen.

kindness is strength
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Registered: ‎12-22-2013

Re: Helen Mirren Runs Barefoot Down Paris Runway


@fancy pantsy wrote:

i just love her


She looks fantastic.  Dress is amazingSmiley Happy

Occasional Contributor
Posts: 19
Registered: ‎10-10-2018

Re: Helen Mirren Runs Barefoot Down Paris Runway

Get over yourself. She is truly Beautiful. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,054
Registered: ‎06-14-2010

Re: Helen Mirren Runs Barefoot Down Paris Runway

One of the best actresses of our time, everything she does is superb!  She will be playing Catherine the Great in a TV mini series, October 21 on HBO.  I'm sire she will be excellent,  Helen Mirren seems to enjoy life!