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The life and times of Helen

What a Dame

at 70…

As actress Helen Mirren celebrates a birthday milestone we look back at her early days, remarkable career and what’s really important to her

By Alison James

ge is just a number,’ announces a biker jacket-clad Helen Mirren on a TV commercial for a famous skin care brand, ‘and I never was much good at maths.’

Maybe not, but it is to be hoped she will be doing something very special to mark her 70th birthday because she is definitely worth it!

There are many things to love and admire about one of our greatest thespian Dames. She is undoubtedly stunning to look at but it is an earthy, approachable beauty and one which she is refreshingly modest about.

“I am not gorgeous, I never was,” she has said. “But I was always OK-looking and I’m keen to stay that way. I used to worry a lot more about my looks than I do now. I think the great advantage of getting older is that you let go of certain things. You throw certain things away. The weird thing is you get more comfortable in yourself, even as time is giving you less reason for it.

“I don’t look remotely glamorous most of the time and I’m not very stylish. I’ve always loved getting dressed up, though. It’s one of the reasons I’m an actress. I love costumes and the red carpet is a kind of costume, really – you’re putting on a character. It’s certainly not the real you.”

The real Helen is the kind of woman who takes the nail scissors to her hair because she finds regular visits to

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THE GREEN GODDESS Helen in headturning form earlier this year, but most of the time she says she doesn’t look glamorous

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❙ star chat ❙

Mirren over seven decades 1950s

1960s

1970s

Left, Helen aged10 in Hansel and Gretel, and right in her first film role Age of Consent

2000s

The long and short of it! Clockwise from top right, Helen’s changing hairstyles from the Seventies through to the Noughties.

She just seems to get better with age

1980s

PICS: REX SHUTTERSTOCK, GETTY IMAGES

1990s

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Style simple summer Your

notes

Heavy make-up looks and feels too much when it’s hot outside, so opt for a subtly natural look that leaves your skin glowing. With just a few simple beauty products you can achieve a youthful look and – best of all – it will only take a few minutes to do your face every day!

make-up kit All you need is four basic products to give yourself a youthful glow whatever your budget

By Charlotte Haigh MacNeil

Four steps to summer skin A lighter base

1

Foundation can look too heavy in bright sunlight, which can be ageing. And in hot weather, it’s likely to smear and feel greasy. Go for a tinted moisturiser or BB cream instead – this will help protect and nourish your skin while also giving ultra-light, even coverage.

Give your cheeks a 2 youthful glow Powder blush can look cakey and unnatural on a hot day. The best option is a gel or cream blush, which blends easily into your skin and gives a softer finish.

They will help to give your skin a youthful glow that will last all day.

that stays put!

3Mascara

overdone in the middle of summer. Instead, use mascara for definition.

Apply just on your top lashes and make sure you wiggle the wand right into the corner of your eye to get the tiny lashes there – you’ll be amazed at the difference this makes, helping to ‘lift’ your eyes and giving them an almond shape. Always choose a waterproof mascara – even if you’re not going near a pool, as heat can make regular mascara smudge.

and nourish lips 4Soften

Give your lips a subtle touch of colour with a tinted lip balm. It will soften and nourish your lips, and won’t leave them sticky like or gloss or lipstick can.

Give eyeshadow and eyeliner a miss – as well as running and smudging, eye make-up can look 36

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Make-up kits for every budget Bargain

£14.66 TOTAL!

✢ Natural Collection Tinted Moisturiser, £1.99, nourishes skin while leaving you with a sheer, even finish. ✢ Barry M Make Me Blush, £4.49, contains anti-ageing Vitamin C to give your skin a youthful look while adding colour. We love the Peach Melba shade. ✢ Seventeen Waterproof Mascara, £4.69, gives you lush, smudge-free lashes on a budget. ✢ Barry M Cor Balmy! Tinted Lip Balm in Trouble and Strife Coral, £3.49, gives your lips a punch of juicy colour.

Mid-price ✢ The Body Shop’s clever All-In-One BB Cream, £12, transforms from a white cream to suit your skin tone.

It contains pigment-filled capsules which burst as you smooth it over your skin, leaving you with a clear, undetectable finish. ✢ Bourjois Aquablush, £8.99, which is super-lightweight and stays put for 12 hours. Try the Pink Twice shade, a vivid rose that flatters everyone. ✢ B.All Lengthening Defining Volumising Mascara Waterproof, £9.99. ✢ Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm, £5.99 – choose Rose, a dusky pink that will make you look as though you’ve been nibbling summer berries!

OTHER SUMMER ESSENTIALS Add these to your basic daytime kit to ramp up the glamour… ✢ GOSH Prime ‘n’ Set, £9.99 This perfecting face powder can be used alone to disguise pores and smooth uneven skin – or pat it over your tinted moisturiser for mattifying extra coverage.

BEAUTY ✢ L’Oreal Glam EDITOR’S Bronze La Terra, CHOICE £10.29 To enhance a natural glow and add some subtle contours to your face, sweep this bronzing powder across your forehead, cheekbones, jawline and collarbones. ✢ Revlon Nail Enamel in Privileged, £6.49 Don’t forget your feet! This glamorous but low-maintenance peach shade is perfect for tanned toes.

✢ Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser, £22.50, is ultrahydrating but lightweight. ✢ Clarins Cream Blush in Candy, £18, gives a pop of fresh pink colour. ✢ Lancôme Hypnose Drama Waterproof Mascara, £22.50, super-boosts your lashes to leave them full and fanned-out. ✢ Benefit BeneBalm, £14.50, nourishes lips and leaves a soft rose tint.

STOCKISTS: Autograph at M&S 0333 014 8555 www.marksandspencer.com; B.All 0345 671 0709 www.superdrug.com; Barry M 0208 349 2992 www.barrym.com; Benefit 0800 279 4793 www. benefitcosmetics.co.uk; The Body Shop 0800 092 9090 www.thebodyshop.co.uk; Boots 0345 070 8090 www.boots.com; Bourjois www.bourjois.co.uk; Burt’s Bees 0808 234 1423 www.burtsbees. co.uk; Clarins 01279 774 215 www.clarins.co.uk; Clinique www.clinique.co.uk; GOSH 03456 710 709 www.superdrug.com; L’Oreal 0800 0304 033 www.loreal-paris.co.uk; Lancôme 0800 9171842 www. lancome.co.uk; Natural Collection from Boots (see above); Revlon 0800 085 2716 www.revlon.co.uk; Seventeen from Boots (see above) Details correct at time of going to press

✢ Autograph Ultra-Rich Colour Twist-Up Lipstick, £9.50 This smudge-proof, featherresistant lipstick is the perfect choice when you want more intense colour. Soft Coral is a great summery shade.

✢ NEXT ISSUE Nourish your hair with our tried and tested hair masks YOURS

EVERY FORTNIGHT

PICS: GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK, ISTOCK PHOTO

Luxury

✢ Boots Skin Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets, £3.99 Beat shine and leave your make-up intact with these clever blotting papers.

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Good to KNOW... | IT’S A FACT |

HOW TO...

Passwords, debit and credit card PINs, and paying bills top a list of the ten things we’re most likely to forget!

Almost half of us (47 per cent) say our memory gets worse with age says Admiral Multicar

MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY CASH TRAVEL FURTHER 1 When buying currency focus on the total price including charges rather than the exchange rate, then compare with other deals 2 Pre-paid currency cards are the easy way to carry money abroad, visit www.fairfx.com for details 3 Best cash deals are usually those online with collection from city locations 4 If you’ve left it late, pre-order cash for airport collection from Travelex.co.uk to avoid paying more by buying them on the day you travel 6 Check exchange rates on the move with an app such as the one you can download at XE.com 7 With unused spending money, focus on the amount you’ll get back, rather than rates/fees ✢ For more holiday savers, visit www.yours.co.uk

THE

WATCHING

PENNIES

CASH SAVER The amount you can invest in Premium Bonds has been raised to £50,000 tax-free (was £40,000).

Parents and legal guardians can now buy bonds for children under 16 from

| DID YOU KNOW? | Good news – calls to 0800 or 0808 numbers from your mobile phone are now free. Mobile users had previously incurred charges of up to 40p a minute.

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BUDGET BEATER Barbecue looking a little worse for wear? Get it in tip-top condition with BBQ Pride! The cleaner comes with a bag and gloves for cleaning racks, grills and the inside of the barbecue.

BBQ Pride is from the makers of Oven Pride and costs £3.99 from retailers including Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and PoundStretcher. ✢ Tuck into our tasty barbecue recipes at Yours.co.uk

www.nsandi.com/premium-bonds or by calling 0500 007 007. You can buy at the Post Office but only until July 31, when the service will end.

Minimum investment £100.

savviest with their cash according to a recent nationwide poll – and the over-65s tend to agree, naming themselves as the age group with the best financial prowess! Source: SoSmartMoney

GREENWATCH Save around £40 by getting your boiler serviced now. “Heating engineers are less busy in summer so bills are up to 20 per cent less,” says Mark Oakes at B&ES. A regularly-serviced boiler will save on your energy bills. Plus, an engineer can check if a gas appliance is safe, reducing the risk of carbonmonoxide poisoning.

Budget beater A mortgage is now considered the hardest financial product to switch because of the more stringent affordability test introduced last year. Just 59 per cent of mortgage switchers described the process as ‘easy’ compared to 70 per cent back in July 2014. “However with record low interest-rates, the hassle of going through the checks might be worth it to save yourself cash,” advises Matt Sanders from GoCompare.com

✢ Find an approved engineer at www.trustmark.org.uk or call 0333 555 1234

VALUE D

AT

£250 - £350

Cash in the attic Ricardia ware is known for its complex glazes and stunning colours. It was produced from the Twenties to 1939 by Richards, once one of Britain’s largest tile companies.

Inspiriation came from other tile makers, including Mintons and Candy & Co, and by the art pottery produced by Pilkington and Doulton. Like these companies, Richards was inspired by ancient Chinese forms and glazes. Pieces are rare as they were never produced for sale and were instead given away promotionally to key clients. This 18.5cm (7.25in) tall jar is valued at £250-£350.

Source: millersonline.com

✢ NEXT ISSUE Get a free Lush face mask, and more!

Want to save money and enjoy something for free?

Every fortnight we’ll share our top freebies and money-saving offers.

Fre e HOLIDAY FUN BOOK This handy book is full of ideas on how to entertain the younger ones in the family during holidays. Order yours at www.halosnhorns. co.uk/holiday_fun_book.html

Fre e CAT FOOD Register with Purina One and you can claim a free sample of cat food for adult cats. Visit www. purinaone.co.uk/ Promotions/FreeSample

Fre e PHONE CHARGER EE mobile customers can charge their phones on the go with this free Power Bar. Pop into your nearest store or call 0800 956 6000.

Fre e MAC LIPSTICK Take six empty MAC make-up containers back to any MAC beauty counter and you’ll receive a free lipstick worth £15.50. You can even pick the shade!

Call 0800 074 6905 for details. ✢ This round-up is supplied by our friends at MagicFreebies, the UK’s most popular freebie website. Visit www.magicfreebiesuk.co.uk for all the latest free stuff, offers, competitions, moneysaving tips and more.

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WORDS: SARAH JAGGER. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, IT’S ALWAYS WISE TO CONSULT AN AUTHORISED PROFESSIONAL ADVISER PICS: GETTY IMAGES; SHUTTERSTOCK; ISTOCKPHOTO; ALAMY

| IT’S A FACT | The over-65s are

Fre e bie s OF THE FORTNIGHT!

❙ summer puzzle extra ❙ CRISS CROSS

FIVERS

Fit the list of beauty item words into this grid, jigsaw-wise wherever they will go. There is only one correct solution, so you might have to give it some thought before putting each word in!

From the letters of the words given below, form six five-letter words to fit the grid. Three letters have been inserted already and here is a clue to the first word reading across: Timepiece

CHIC CHUM CIGAR COOK LOOK

C I

K

SIX OF THE BEST

3 LETTERS WAX 4 LETTERS COMB KOHL MASK MUSK SOAP TALC

8 LETTERS BASECOAT CLEANSER EYELINER FACE PACK LIP GLOSS LIPSTICK SUN BLOCK SUN CREAM

5 LETTERS BRUSH CREAM NAILS ROUGE SCENT TINTS TONER

9 LETTERS BODY SPRAY EYESHADOW HAIRSPRAY SHOWER GEL

6 LETTERS MAKE-UP MOUSSE PENCIL POWDER

10 LETTERS AFTERSHAVE BODY LOTION FOUNDATION

7 LETTERS BATH OIL COMPACT FAKE TAN HAIR DYE HAIR GEL LIP BALM MASCARA PERFUME SHAMPOO TOPCOAT

11 LETTERS MOISTURISER

SAY WHAT YOU SEE 1

ANSWERS ON PAGE 80

Write each answer into a hexagon in a clockwise direction around its clue number in the grid. When you have finished, the central blue hexagons will reveal the surname of a famous inventor.

1 Icy 2 Pay no attention to 3 Distance from end to end 4 Heavy downpour 5 Unpowered aircraft 6 Completely quiet

Can you guess the name of this town in Northumberland from the clues here?

1 R 6

2

5

3 E 4

UP CLOSE 1 Can you correctly identify this close-up photo of an item from the natural world?

SAY WHAT YOU SEE 2

Can you guess the singer’s name?

60 SECOND NUMBER CRUNCH 1 MEMORY GAME Study these 15 symbols for one minute then turn the page to see how many changes you can spot...

Test your mathematical prowess – no calculators though!

Beginner

43

DOUBLE IT

+26

HALVE IT

÷4 x8 -16 ÷12 x7 +25

Intermediate

60

1

/6

OF THIS

1

/3

x6

OF THIS

x4

OF THIS

TRIPLE IT

+53

DOUBLE IT

÷5 +35

80% OF THIS

-26

÷4

-28 ÷12

Genius

45

1

/3

OF THIS

5

/6

20/20 Two letters have already been placed in this grid. Now enter the other 18 given letters to form a rectangle of words, four reading across and five reading down. Each of the letters must take its place in the column or row against which it appears. So the letter L may only appear in the second column, and the letter M only in the top row.

TRIPLE IT

÷15

S L E N E O

E I

O

M V

E

C

P

S D

I

N E B

UP CLOSE 2 Can you identify this close-up photo from the natural world?

SAY WHAT YOU SEE 3

Guess this Prime Minister’s name?

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❙ star chat ❙

mfrom y lessons life…

Actress Denise Black (57), back playing Joanie Wright in Emmerdale, chats to Yours about a new chapter in her life

✢ It’s never too late to learn something new

✢ I want to live to 100

Above, reprising her role as Joanie in Emmerdale and left, pictured in1993 during her Corrie days

✢ It’s important to be a team player It is when you’re an actor, anyway.

Acting is very disciplined and a bit, I think, like being a pawn on a really huge chess board. It’s very important how you move because it affects everyone else.

✢ Being a mum is a real privilege It has been my most important job, and the hardest, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way – you do it for love, not money. My two kids are adults now and have left home. I think we should talk more about the Empty Nest Syndrome.

It means a big change in our lives but it’s also a new beginning.

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Playing Joanie in Emmerdale again has given me something to get my teeth into now the kids have flown the nest.

✢ Working is fun Now my children have grown up, I’m free to be me once more. I feel as excited as I did when I was first starting out because I can concentrate on my work with no distractions. Everyone is different and I’m sure many people of my age are looking forward to retirement but that seems a long way off for me. I want to be working for as long as I can. I have a fresh hunger for my work.

I had a great gran who lived until she was nearly 107.

Her name was Florence Andrews. I remember watching the moon landing on TV with her, and she said, ‘Can you imagine what I have seen in my life? Electricity, telephones, gas, running water, cars and now rockets to the moon!’ I just thought ‘Wow! To be that old and to have seen so much. . . That’s something to live for!’ All being well I will live to a great age – although by then I’ll be much worse at learning my lines!

✢ Work surprises are good Where work’s concerned, I like not knowing what’s going to happen. I specifically don’t ask and haven’t gone upstairs to quiz the Emmerdale producers about what’s in store for my character Joanie. I want it to be a surprise. ✢ Denise was talking to Alison James. ✢ Emmerdale is on ITV1 from Monday to Fridays.

WHAT MADE YOU WHO YOU ARE TODAY? My grandma and her mother, my great grandma Florence, were two suffragettes who lived through both world wars and helped bring me up when I was a child.

They had a huge impact on my life. They were very strong women and profoundly affected the way I thought.

PICS: REX SHUTTERSTOCK/MARK LAWRENCE, MIRRORPIX

I couldn’t cook before I went on Celebrity Masterchef in 2013 – I was absolutely rubbish, in fact. But learning about food on that show has turned me into a real foodie. I love cooking now. I’m so interested in which taste goes with what, different nutrients and the importance of colours on the plate. I did my first dinner party a few weeks ago and I have to say that it wasn’t bad!