Helen Mirren Tells Actresses That They’re Not Beautiful

The Hollywood Reporter’s latest drama actress roundtable went live over the weekend, featuring a wide-ranging conversation among Kathy Bates, Niecy Nash-Betts, Parker Posey, Keri Russell, Cristin Milioti, and Helen Mirren.

At one point during the candid chat, the group reflected on some of the worst guidance they’ve received throughout their careers, prompting Helen, 79, to recall once being told to get a nose job.

“I was told to have a nose job in my 20s,” the MobLand star shared. “Someone said, ‘You’ll never get work if you don’t have a nose job.’ I said no. I didn’t want to be a pretty actress anyway. I elected to be not so pretty.”

Niecy later told Helen, “When you said, ‘I didn’t wanna be a beautiful actress.’ First of all, too late. Because you are! But I understand what you mean, in theory. I love being shiny in my real life. On camera, I don’t care.”

“I want to look like a dog. It doesn’t bother me to disappear in some of those roles. I feel sorry for people who have been beautiful their whole life. Because when that’s what you’re known for, you got to keep it up for your whole life? I don’t know what I’d do,” she added.

This prompted Kathy to interject and say, “I don’t know if y’all have the same experience, but when you see an amazing performance, it doesn’t matter what that person looks like — they’re beautiful.” Cristin added, “They’re hot!”

Per the Hollywood Reporter’s transcript, Helen then told the group that “none” of them are beautiful. “Looking at our faces around this table, none of us are beautiful,” she said.

Kathy, 76, replied, “Oh, get out of town! I feel more beautiful than I have in my entire life.” However, Helen doubled down! “We’re not. None of us are beauties. We all have really different faces, very interesting faces,” she said.

Keri then said, “I know what you mean. Like model beautiful?” to which Helen replied, “We all know what ‘beautiful’ is like.” Keri quipped, “Kathy’s like, ‘Speak for yourself,’” while the group burst out laughing.

Well then! You can find the full roundtable conversation right here.