Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Culture
    2. Celebrity News

    7 times Dame Helen Mirren was just the absolute best

    'It's been a big pile of sh*t' - Dame Helen on 2016

    Delphine Chui's avatar
    By Delphine Chui
    Published 23 December 2016 In Buying Guides

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Helen Mirren
    (Image credit: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    'It's been a big pile of sh*t' - Dame Helen on 2016

    Dame Helen Mirren is a living legend. End of. No one else evokes her smart, witty, cool and quite simply, that total DGAF energy as much as her. And, when the world caught a glimpse of her latest TV appearance on The Graham Norton Show, where she gave an alternative Christmas message (she basically is the queen), we all rejoiced, because she said what we've all been thinking...

    She addressed the audience with, 'Hello, at this time of celebration and togetherness, we have a chance to reflect on the year gone by. And I think we can all agree that 2016 has been a big pile of sh**,' before literally dropping the mic. (Seriously, could she BE any cooler?)

    YouTube YouTube
    Watch On

    And that's not the first time she's owned TV with her charm and wit, oh no, Dame Helen Mirren has been owning the world for a long time. Have you read all of Helen Mirren's life advice yet? Words to live by, if you ask us. The woman is one of Britain's most successful actresses of all time, after all. Helen Mirren's life story is also a brilliant read. She's won an Oscar, three Golden Globes and four Emmys and is basically, a total force to be reckoned with.

    When Helen Mirren completely eviscerated Michael Parkinson (who was being crazy sexist)

    When Helen Mirren stole a kiss off Stephen Colbert

    When Helen Mirren played 'Heads Up' with Ellen

    When Helen Mirren sucked helium while on the Jimmy Fallon show

    YouTube YouTube
    Watch On

    When Helen Mirren admitted she was a little bit in love with Vin Diesel on Seth Myers' show

    YouTube YouTube
    Watch On

    When Helen Mirren twerked (yes. really)

    See! We bet however much you loved her before, it's now at least doubled right? We can only hope we're this cool at 71 one day. Dame Helen Mirren, we bow down.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Delphine Chui
    Delphine Chui
    Social Links Navigation
    Read more
    Madonna's Confessions II: Madonna performs at TSX Stage in Times Square on June 4, 2026 in New York City.
    Culture Madonna's Confessions II Deserves to Be the Album of the Summer, But the Response Proves We Still Punish Women for Ageing
    Andy Burnham and Marie-France van Heel entering 10 Downing Street
    Fashion “Are We Just Jealous?” Victoria Moss Unpacks the Sexist, Ageist Commentary Around Marie-France van Heel’s Victoria Beckham Dress
     
     
    Some of the best female athletes in the world right now, plus the ones to watch, featuring Dina Asher Smith, Faith Kipyegon, Keely Hodgkinson, Serena Williams and Simone Biles
    Fitness 50 Influential Female Athletes To Know, Watch, and Follow—in 2026 and Beyond
    Anne Hathaway attends the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2
    Celebrity News Anne Hathaway Has Spoken Out About Her 10-Year Health Battle
     
     
    Latest in Celebrity News
    Olivia Rodrigo performing on stage in a babydoll dress that sparked online debate, later prompting the singer to speak out about the sexualisation of girlhood and double standards facing young women.
    Celebrity News “We Really Normalise Pedophilia in Our Culture”: What Olivia Rodrigo's Babydoll Dress Backlash Reveals About Girlhood
    Meghan Markle in 'With Love, Meghan'
    Celebrity News Meghan Markle’s Sweet Glimpse Into Sussex Family Life Is Going Viral
     
     
    Anne Hathaway attends the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2
    Celebrity News Anne Hathaway Has Spoken Out About Her 10-Year Health Battle
    The Prince and Princess of Wales visit the Isles of Mull and Iona
    Royal News Royal Experts Predict a Major Milestone From Princess Kate This Autumn
     
     
    Latest in Buying Guides
    Best foundation balms
    Make Up If You’ve Fallen Out of Love With Foundation in Your 30s, This Hydrating, Blurring Alternative Still Gives Impressive Coverage
    Reformation Sale
    Fashion The Reformation Summer Sale Is Full of Autumn Buys—So I Spent Two Hours Finding the Best Ones
     
     
    selection of the best pre-shampoo treatments tested by Marie Claire UK
    Hair If Your Hair Still Feels Lacklustre No Matter What You Try, a Pre-Shampoo Treatment Could Be What’s Missing
    Monikh Dale
    Shopping 4 Stylish Throw-On Outfits for Busy Mums Currently Juggling Kids’ School Holidays, Work and Everything In Between
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.