We don’t know how Helen Mirren was able to conduct herself so gracefully during such an infuriating interview!
Video recently resurfaced showing the acclaimed actress giving an interview on British talk show Parkinson back in 1975, and the conversation possibly one of the most sexist of all time, thanks to host Michael Parkinson!
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The TV personality introduced the young star to the stage by listing off a bunch of sexual comments from reviewers, including one that described her as “especially telling in projecting a sluttish eroticism.”
So, the interview (seen in full below) was already off to a fantastic start.
After strutting across the stage — looking annoyed, btw — the UK native took her seat and told Michael:
“That was sluttishly erotic for you.”
The host immediately began to bombard Miz Mirren with a serious of questions, asking how she felt when people described her that way.
After the thespian answered that she was indifferent to the sex-based comments — clearly not happy with the line of questioning — Mr. Parkinson went on to say he feels critics are right to brand her as a “sex queen.”
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Ugh.
Oh and then he thought this was just a totally acceptable thing to say:
“You are, in quotes, a serious actress.”
When Helen demanded to know what he meant by specifying “in quotes,” Michael explained that the phrase is a “clich├â┬⌐.” What?!
Well, glossing over that, he asked:
“Do you find, in fact, that this, what could be best described as your ‘equipment’ in fact hinders you, perhaps, in that pursuit?”
When asked what “equipment” he was referring to, the broadcaster clarified he was talking about her “physical attributes,” specifically her “figure.”
And this is all only in the first two minutes.
But the gorgeous gal GLORIOUSLY fired back at the man, saying:
“Because serious actresses can’t have big bosoms, is that what you mean?”
After Michael said the size of her breasts might “detract from the performance,” Helen exclaimed:
“What a crummy performance if people are obsessed with the size of your bosom or anything else. I would hope that the performance, and the play, and the living relationship between all the people on the stage and all the people in the audience overcome such boring questions.”
YAAAAS! The Fast 8 star has ALWAYS been a badass!
Later on in the conversation, Michael asked if she was attracted to “greasy men in leather jackets,” like the stereotypical description of men who frequented the fairground where she used to work.
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She perfectly responded:
“It’s not so much that I like men who look like that. But I, I mean I suppose I do. But I strongly dislike men who look another way, like men in very nicely cut suits.”
Heyo! Direct shot at her interviewer… to his face! LOVES it!
And, eventually, the subject once again turned sexist when the television presenter asked whether or not she was embarrassed about nude scenes.
But the fierce female quipped back:
“It’s a male chauvinist thing├óΓé¼┬ª you’ve heard that phrase before, I’m sure.”
Amazing!
Ch-ch-check out the full interview (below)!
[Image via YouTube.]
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