Don't hate her because she is aging so gracefully.
Helen Mirren is standing in front of me in an orange and black dress with a black coat over it.
She hits the orange trend of 2012, but does it in a way that is subtle and striking. Once again it proves that when it comes to styling tips, Mirren defies Hollywood description.
Her face glows and I want her new haircut, which is a long, Princess Diana shag. Her shiny grey hair should be on the hair color charts.
It's noon in the Big Apple and Mirren and I are talking about her new film, "Hitchcock." It's an amazing film about the life of the famed director Alfred Hitchcock.
In the film, he's played by Anthony Hopkins to perfection and probably an Oscar nomination.
Of course, I culled some great beauty (and life lessons) from spending a little time with a Dame named Helen.
FIRST LESSON: DON'T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY.
World class beauty? Aging role model? Mirren has a way of bringing it all back to ground zero.
She won't even allow movie stars to fawn over her. Yet, she admits that a certain film role fills up the room. Yes, she starred in 2006's "The Queen," which earned her a Best Actress Oscar.
"When I met Anthony Hopkins for this film, I was afraid he was thinking of me as the Queen. I'm not the Queen. I'm just Helen," she says with a sigh.
There is nothing "just Helen" about her.
SECOND LESSON: DON'T ALLOW YOUR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE TO LIMIT YOU
She plays Alma Reville or Mrs. Alfred Hitchcock in the new film, which also focuses on the women behind the man. Alma was responsible for much of Hitchcock's success both on an inspirational and creative level.
Alas, she found it hard to research Alma. "Very few people who met Alma are still alive today," says Mirren who also had to contend with the fact that she looks nothing like the real woman.
"She was tiny, under five feet. I have this image in my mind of a tiny, bird-like woman and this huge guy who was big in every way. I love that image."
Mirren laments, "I'm not little. If I could have had plastic surgery to take me down a bit that would have been great."
THIRD LESSON: CHANGE UP YOUR STYLE
The last time I interviewed Mirren, about a year ago, she had a long bob. Now, it's the Princess Di shag. Mirren is a style trendsetter who isn't afraid to morph into the newest version of herself.
"You have to make changes to keep it interesting," she insists.
FOURTH LESSON: MAKE SURE YOUR STYLE IS ATTAINABLE AND NATURAL. What's gorgeous about her choices when it comes to hair is that hers moves and naturally falls back into place. She isn't sporting a style that looks like she needs a team of stylists to achieve.
So many of us take a star picture to our hairdressers and then are disappointed when we can't re-create it at home.
She also found the perfect cut (again) that looks beautiful at a daytime interview because it works with her hair type. But if she put on an evening gown five minutes later and ran a brush through it, she would also be ready to go.
FIFTH LESSON: LOOK YOUR AGE AND EMBRACE AGING
Mirren has the most stunning silver hair, which looks completely natural. Instead of dying it blonde-y blonde, she embraces her age, but will still look like the sexiest sixtysomething around.
There is a lot to be said for the way she has eased into that age with her style, which is the silver hair and stunning eye, smoked eyes, nude lipstick and minimal powder.
"I think there has been a sea change in people's attitudes about aging. An awful lot of women look fabulous in their 60s, 70s and 80s," she insists.
SIXTH LESSON: A HAPPY MARRIAGE IS A GREAT BEAUTY SECRET
Mirren is married to director Taylor Hackford. I ran into them in Westwood, California, one Saturday night holding hands in line for the movies. The look on both of their faces said, "We're still really digging each other."
They also have work in common. "We do take an interest in each other's work and we're there for any advice, but we also allow each other freedom."
SEVENTH LESSON: EMBRACE YOUR LACK OF A BEAUTY ROUTINE
Mirren is currently shooting "Red 2" where she reprises her role as Victoria. She also plays Becky's Inner Voice on the hit series "Glee."
Don't dare ask her how she keeps her glam up while shuttling between sets.
"I'm permanently guilty about the fact that I don't exercise enough and I should be exercising I can't be bothered.
"I guess I just have excellent posture," she says.
"I'm far from being a big workout person. All I can say is its best to move as much as possible, but I don't have a routine I can tell the world. I like to garden. Does that even count?"
