Helen Mirren with her husband Taylor and her two stepsons Rio and Alexander (Picture: Jim Smeal/BEI/BEI/Shutterstock)

Helen Mirren has admitted that she once cried over her decision not to have children of her own.

The actress does have two stepchildren – Rio, 45 and Alexander, 36 – from 71-year-old husband Taylor Hackford’s previous relationship.

But Dame Helen, 70, told the Sunday Times’ Culture magazine: ‘I have never had a moment of regret about not having children.

‘Well, I lie. When I watched the movie, Parenthood, I sobbed for about 20 minutes.


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‘It was about the whole story of being a parent and how it never stops, even when you’re a grandparent,’ she continued.



‘I realised I would never experience that, and for about 20 minutes, I sobbed for the loss of that and the fact that I never experienced it.’

Helen, who will next be seen in Eye In The Sky, added: ‘Then I got over it and I was happy again.’

Dame Helen playing the Queen last year Picture: Everett/REX/Shutterstock)

It’s ironic then that Dame Helen’s most memorable role is as one of the world’s most powerful mothers, Queen Elizabeth II.

Other female stars who have told the press they don’t want to have children include Renee Zellweger, Cameron Diaz, Kim Cattrall and Stevie Nicks.

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