The actress has something to say about men who sling their arms around their partner’s shoulders. [Photo: Rex]



Dame Helen Mirren isn’t one to mince her words. The Oscar-winning actress is known for being ballsy and expressive with her opinions and probably has those attributes to thank for how successful she is.

But her latest tirade has people divided. The 70-year-old actress has taken aim at men who put their arm around their partner’s shoulders – because it looks like “ownership”.



“It annoys me when I see men with an arm slung round their girlfriend’s shoulders,” The Queen star said. “It’s like ownership. Of course, when you’re young, you want the guy to take your hand and look after you.

“But when I see girls being leaned on, I want to say, ‘Tell him to get his damned arm off your shoulder’.”

You won’t catch Mirren’s hubby, Taylor Hackford, putting his arm around her shoulders. [Photo: Rex]



The rest of the actress’ interview with the Mail On Sunday’s You Magazine was equally candid.



Comparing women to “toddlers in this modern world”, Dame Mirren said ladies are still “trying to find their position in the age of sexual liberation, birth control, education and financial independence.”

Women’s independence is an issue very close to Mirren’s heart. She’s previously spoken out on the importance of women standing up for themselves and the sexism of Hollywood and says that she thinks it’s a “very good idea” if we save marriage for later – like she did.



The actress didn’t marry until the age of 52 when she tied the knot with US film director Taylor Hackford.



She hinted that females today have a “princess complex” that makes them want to get hitched earlier rather than later – so they can don a beautiful gown and be the centre of attention for a day.



The elegant actress would tell her younger self to say “f*** off” more often. [Photo: Rex]



She has some advice for herself, too. “At 70 years old, if I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to use the words “f*** off” much more frequently.”

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In June, Mirren hit the headlines for attacking Hollywood over “outrageous” sexism and ageism issues.



While she admits that her own sex-symbol status has been a “hindrance as well as a help”, she says “there’s a huge pressure on young girls to look a certain way these days but, as I age, I’ve lost that incredible insecurity of youth.”

Anne Hathaway’s another big-name actress who’s recently spoken out about the battles women face in the film industry. Despite only being a mere 32 years old, Hathaway says she’s faced ageism and has missed out on roles that have gone to younger stars.

“When I was in my early twenties, parts would be written for women in their fifties and I would get them,” she confesses in the October issue of Glamour magazine.



“And now I’m in my early thirties and I’m like, ‘Why did that 24 year old get that part?’ I was that 24-year-old once, I can’t be upset about it, it’s the way things are. All I can do right now is think that thankfully you have built up perhaps a little bit of cachet and can tell stories that interest you and if people go to see them you’ll be allowed to make more.”

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