Two years after gracing the cover of PEOPLE’s Beautiful Issue, Helen Mirren continues to champion confidence and self-acceptance.

The Oscar-winning actress and L’Oréal Paris ambassador recently shared her thoughts on beauty, individuality, and the evolving role of women in filmmaking while attending the Cannes Film Festival to promote The Most Precious of Cargoes.

Embracing Individuality Over Conventional Beauty
At 78, Mirren acknowledges that while some people, like Naomi Campbell and David Beckham, are undeniably beautiful, she doesn’t see herself in that category. “That’s fine by me,” she told PEOPLE.

“I look okay, but I’m not that beautiful. We are all individuals, and the key is embracing that uniqueness rather than aspiring to be someone else.”

She noted that young women often struggle with self-acceptance, recalling her own youthful desire to emulate Twiggy, the iconic 1960s model. “I desperately wanted to be Twiggy,” she admitted, “but I absolutely was not.”

Over time, she learned the real value lies in embracing one’s authentic self. “The trick is to accept and love yourself, recognize your individuality, and be proud of it.”

Advocating for Women in Film

During Cannes, Mirren participated in the Lights on Women Award ceremony, an initiative launched by L’Oréal Paris in 2021 to support emerging female filmmakers.

She emphasized that filmmaking requires immense courage. “You have to be bold to use someone else’s money to bring your vision to life,” she explained. “That’s why providing opportunities for female storytellers is so vital.”

Mirren underscored the importance of diversifying perspectives in cinema. “For 50 years, we’ve largely seen stories told from a male point of view,” she said. “It’s overdue for us to experience more narratives from a female perspective.”