Dame Helen Mirren says she's 'tired of being called sexy'
Oscar-winning actress also shares her views on the battle for wage equality for women
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Dame Helen Mirren has said the media's focus on her looks has been a longstanding cause of frustration.
The British actress has won numerous top acting prizes, including an Oscar, a Tony and four Emmys, but is frequently referred to as a "sex symbol".
"I've always been tired of being called 'sexy'. It’s annoying and irritating - I just have to put up with it," she told the Radio Times.
Mirren also shared her views on wage equality for women, praising fellow actress Patricia Arquette for raising the issue during her acceptance speech at last year's Academy Awards.
"You can argue that an awards show is not the right forum, but you can bang on about it, as I have, and nobody listens and nobody reports it, and then the moment comes when people are ready," she said.
"The great thing is that she wasn’t just talking about Hollywood, she was talking about women in all industries. In my lifetime I've seen things go from utterly iniquitous to fairly iniquitous to slightly iniquitous - but at least we're moving in the right direction."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments