- - Helen Mirren Reveals Her 'Cheaper' Alternative to Getting a Facelift

Catherine SantinoJanuary 14, 2026 at 3:09 AM

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Helen Mirren. -

Helen Mirren shared her thoughts on younger people getting facelifts in a new interview with Elle

The actress said that people should make this one change before deciding to get the procedure

"It's a lot cheaper than a facelift," Mirren shared

Helen Mirren has some advice for those considering a facelift.

In an interview with Elle published on Sunday, Jan. 11, the 80-year-old actress shared her thoughts on the cosmetic procedure that's gaining popularity among a younger population.

"If women or men are seriously diminished, defeated, or depressed when they look in the mirror and are brought down by what they see, and they have the financial ability and the mental ability or whatever to change it, fine," she told the outlet.

Mirren continued, "I do think because of social media and what apps can do, you [can] look at the reality and you get literally depressed. I think that’s a very, very sad state of affairs."

The Oscar winner then suggested the one simple change that could sway someone's decision to go under the knife.

"Before contemplating anything, get really good lighting in your bathroom so that whenever you look in the mirror, you are lit beautifully and look great," she said. " ... It’s a lot cheaper than getting a facelift."

"I am serious about the good lighting in the bathroom," she continued. "Bad lighting is so depressing. I think it would be a terrible mistake to get plastic surgery when you’re in your twenties. Your face changes. I don’t like to criticize or attack people for doing what makes them happy. But to try to look like a fake picture of yourself would be terrible."

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Helen Mirren.

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While participating in The Hollywood Reporter's Drama Actress Roundtable in May 2025, Mirren reflected on the beauty standards in Hollywood alongside Kathy Bates, Niecy Nash-Betts, Parker Posey, Cristin Milioti and Keri Russell.

During the conversation, the star revealed that she was "told to have a nose job in my 20s."

“Someone said, ‘You’ll never get work if you don’t have a nose job,’" Mirren recalled, adding, "I said no. I didn’t want to be a pretty actress anyway. I elected to be not so pretty.”

At the L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth 2025 Mirren told PEOPLE that she doesn’t love the word “beauty,” and that she hopes she’s remembered for something more meaningful.

“I don't like the word beauty. I've always preferred the word swagger. So my legacy would be: 'She had good swagger,’ “ she said

In November 2025, Mirren opened up about her perception of the word beauty during an appearance at the 2024 L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Honoree celebration in West Hollywood, Calif.

“I've always had this issue with the word beauty because it assumes that you're looking to be beautiful in an exterior way,” she told PEOPLE exclusively.

“Of course, there are many, many different kinds of beauty in the world; it’s a very broad term," Mirren continued. "Being an ambassador for a beauty products company, I always wanted to say, ‘We're not trying to be beautiful, we're trying to be authentically and genuinely and happily and positively ourselves, whether that's beautiful or not.’ ”

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”