Well Played: Helen Mirren

Continuing in our accidental yet apt week of dishing out affection to British actresses, I rather love Helen Mirren. She's a straight-shooter, a blunt dame in every sense (having been made a Dame of the British Empire in 2003) who once allegedly said, "All you have to do is to look like crap on film and everyone thinks you're a brilliant actress. Actually, all you've done is look like crap." I sort of adore that for its utter balls-on, f-the-establishment frankness.

Another thing I admire is how well turned-out Dame Helen is.

Fine, full disclosure: I hate the shoes with this dress. They are frumpy. And I wouldn't wear thick tights with open-toed shoes, either, but I understand that sometimes when you get older, the rules change about how much of your actual leg skin you want to flash, and... look, Helen, maybe please wear a pump next time you want to wear hose, okay?

But you know what? On the whole I don't think I care. Because she's a 61-year old woman who's out on the town and knocking it on its ass in that form-fitting red dress. She's proof positive that women of her age, and indeed any age, can look sexy and embrace clingy clothes without needing to go overboard.

Check her out here, not long ago:

Gorgeous, regal without being pompous, and above all, unafraid to rock her cleavage.

So, well played, Helen Mirren, for glowing as you do and not succumbing to the temptation of the mighty caftan -- enemy of non-Golden Girls women everywhere.