Helen Mirren's Boldest Hair Choice Of All Time

Legendary actor Helen Mirren isn't necessarily known for being adventurous in the hair department. She is, however, prone to wearing an eccentric ensemble or two. Mostly, we remember Mirren's outfit at the 2004 Emmys, because it was beyond tasteless. In fact, that may have been one of the most inappropriate outfits in Emmys history. Fortunately, the actor usually rocks her signature sophisticated bob on the red carpet to offset any unwise fashion choices, and it's a style we've come to know and love. That's why it came as a huge surprise when she suddenly debuted something that was not only a major departure from her standard look but also pretty out there in general.

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While attending the opening ceremony and a screening of the film "Jeanne du Barry" at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Mirren shocked us all by matching her strands to her custom blue Del Core gown. Her updo, in varying shades of blue (from royal to teal), was a nod to the towering and elaborate styles that gained popularity in 18th century France — very on theme for the premiere of the historical drama. In a 2025 interview with Grazia, Mirren said of the look, "It was a spur of the moment thing. I sat in the chair and suddenly thought, wouldn't it be great to have blue hair to match my blue dress?"

Aside from her brief blue phase, Helen Mirren is known for keeping her hair pretty simple, though she's also never been one to obsess over industry beauty standards — it's incredibly refreshing. In a 2024 interview with Elle, she admitted, "I love wearing things that might be inappropriate or letting your hair do its thing — and not being a slave to having your hair done." 

The actor also shared with Vogue in 2021 that it was a very easy decision for her to go gray later in life. On par with her rebellious spirit, she even forewent the salon chair altogether during her hair's transition phase. "The process of me losing the color of my hair was very easy — it just looked more and more as if I had been in the sun, but year-round," she shared. "I've always done it myself, I never went to have my hair colored; I couldn't be bothered, it's so boring and expensive."

The always relatable actor continues to surprise us even after years in the spotlight. Overall, Mirren has made some really solid beauty choices throughout her long career, and she's certainly joined the list of celebs who never miss with their signature style.