Helen Mirren, 79, spoke openly about industry pressure during The Hollywood Reporter’s Drama Actress Roundtable. She joined fellow stars Keri Russell, Parker Posey, and Kathy Bates to discuss challenges women face in film and television.
Mirren recalled that a casting director once told her she would never get a job without a nose job. “I was advised to get a nose job when I was in my 20s,” she said. She refused, adding, “I didn’t want to be a pretty actress anyway. I chose to be a less pretty actress.”
Industry Pressure on Female Actors
Mirren’s story highlights the unrealistic demands placed on women in Hollywood. Young actresses often receive advice to alter their appearance, even when their talent is unquestioned. Mirren opted to keep her natural look rather than follow that advice.
Support from Fellow Actresses
After Mirren shared her experience, other participants praised her appearance and her choice. Cristin Milioti and Nancy Nash-Bates both complimented Mirren’s beauty.
“It’s too late,” Nash-Bates joked. “Because you are too late.” The remark underscored that Mirren has long been celebrated for her talent and her look.
Kathy Bates on Hiding Her Cancer Diagnosis
Kathy Bates, also on the roundtable, spoke about bad advice she received after her ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2003. Her agent told her not to tell anyone about the illness. “You don’t want to be the face of ovarian cancer,” Bates recalled her agent saying.
Bates wanted to be open from the start. She later felt her silence hurt others who faced similar struggles. After her breast cancer diagnosis in 2012, Bates shared her story publicly. She said, “I regret not doing it the first time because I went underground.”
Bates explained that hiding her illness negatively affected both her career and personal life. She stopped attending Academy meetings and kept her condition secret for a year before finally speaking out.
This roundtable discussion shed light on the pressures female actors face when it comes to appearance and health. Mirren’s refusal to get cosmetic surgery and Bates’s decision to share her cancer journey both demonstrate the importance of honesty and self-acceptance in the industry.
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