The British actress has come out condemning male actions of “ownership” over women, stating that she feels frustrated when she sees men sling their arms over their girlfriends.
Dame Helen Mirren, said “It annoys me when I see men with an arm slung round their girlfriend’s shoulders. It’s like ownership. Of course, when you’re young, you want the guy to take your hand and look after you.
“But when I see girls being leaned on, I want to say, ‘Tell him to get his damned arm off your shoulder’.”
The comments were made during an interview with Sunday’s You Magazine, where she lamented the poor choices she made when she was young.
She went on to suggest that women are still developing as “toddlers in this modern world, trying to find their position in the age of sexual liberation, birth control, education and financial independence”.
Mirren, whom married at the age of 52, stressed the importance of being independent and stated that, the youth of today have a “princess complex” that keeps them wanting material things – like a gorgeous wedding dress.
“There’s a huge pressure on young girls to look a certain way these days but, as I age, I’ve lost that incredible insecurity of youth.”
The actress, who has been outspoken before about the rampant sexism in Hollywood, believes this issue, and her sex-symbol status, has been a “hinderance as well as a help” during the course of her illustrious career.
“At 70 years old, if I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to use the words “f*** off” much more frequently.”
