Nudity No 'Big Deal' For Dame Helen

Morley Safer Profiles Award-Winning Actress Dame Helen Mirren

(CBS)  Mirren finally sought help from a psychiatrist. "And he was Scottish. And so he said, 'Well, I think what your problem is, Helen, I think you’ll find … I said, 'I’m sorry, I didn’t quite hear what you said.' 'Well, Helen I think you’ll find your problem is … ' And before the fourth time, I thought 'This is ridiculous, I’m here with this psychiatrist, he’s telling me the answer to all my problems, and I can’t understand what he’s saying,'" she remembers.

So she went to a palm reader who told her her future – which she carefully wrote down and instantly forgot.

But she remembered one thing the palmist told her. "He said 'When you’re in your 50s you will get to be very, very famous,'" she tells Safer.

And she is very famous. In her fifties, she won two Academy Award nominations and eight Emmy nominations, including two wins. She’s on the red carpet again this year, getting attention and Oscar buzz for her star turn in "The Queen."

Also in her fifties, she married director Taylor Hackford, her husband of nine years. They live in London, in a house by the Thames, when they’re not at their house in Los Angeles, or New York, or the south of France.

Asked if Mirren regrets never having had children, she says, "No. Absolutely not. Absolutely not. I am so happy that I didn’t have children. Well, you know because I’ve had freedom."

She had the freedom to become the person she dreamed about when she was barking at the suckers on the pier in Southend-on-Sea.

"Did you ever believe when you were a kid here that you would be who you are today?" Safer asks.

"No," she replies. "‘Course I hoped and I did this I mean embarrassing thing when I think about it now, I used to sit on a bench on the seafront, you know, my hair like this, imagining that a film producer would be driving by and would screech to a halt and get out and say 'You’re the girl I’ve been looking for.' Really, really pathetic. I had my sort of silly dreams and of course, the reality is so much more interesting the way in which life takes you – the hard work is so much more fun actually."

"Fun, I guess when you look back through the misty light of memory," Safer remarks.

"Look Morley, it’s the sun setting on my career," Mirren says.

"Our career!" he replies.

"I was going to say! Exactly! As we walk hand in hand on into the sunset!" Mirren tells Safer.

[lbutts1]

After having seen countless interviews by Morley over the years, I count this one as one of the best. It was obvious that both he and Helen Mirren truly enjoyed it. Both seemed to be in their element. Ending it by walking off into the the beautiful sunset together and laughing about it was wonderful.

[house015]

I think all 17 yr olds should HAVE to see older people naked once in a while! That's where your body is headed for, buddy, don't fool yourself. I only hope I'll look as good as Ms. Mirren, myself. My 37 yr old husband would jump at a chance to bed her!

[carlylaine]

WOW martinpion

You REALLY MEANT WHAT YOU WROTE.! : )

[lacamila-2009]

I love that Helen stated that the best thing about not having children is the freedom. I think a lot more people should consider not having children.

[rufusmin]

About 27 years ago when my husband and I were coming back from a trip out west, we stayed at a motel in western PA and on TV that evening was shown a movie with Helen Mirren. The movie itself was from around 1968 and was a British TV movie, titled "Kiss, Kiss, Kill, Kill". A really good mystery. When the movie ended, my husband claimed Helen Mirren as "another" of his "discoveries". We had never seen her in a movie before this, but he extolled her acting capabilities and said she would go places. Well, he was right! And now she's a Dame. If you can find a copy of that movie "K,K,K,K" watch it. You will be AMAZED.

[ciarrai3]

Long years of watching Morley Safer and not commenting or praising him will end now. His piece on Helen Mirren (which we'd seen on first airing) was one of the most enjoyable, human and flirtacious ones I've seen of all the 10,000 on 60 Minutes. What a warm and wonderful interview. I acquired a crush on Mirren much like the one Morley had. The sight of them walking off into the sunset and the accompanying comments was priceless. Helluva job, Morley.

[donnie900]

*point'n to a spot up on the ceil'n* I think it was that one right there.

[shanev137]

People over 40 should not be allowed to be nude in R-rated movies....for the sake of 17 years olds.

Give the old folks their own rating if they want be nude in movies....like "OFN" for old-folks-nudity.

[donnie900]

Foxiest chick I ever saw. Never ceases to amaze me the charity of women. Ruined my matress.

[bluestardad]

Put a bag on it ***!

[kbcirish]

I loved the segment on Helen Mirren! What an awesome lady! Strong and carefree...I especially loved the part with Morley and Helen laughing and holding hands at the end...Wonderful report..

[Knollsgerblis]

I think Helen Mirren is probably the best actress alive today. This was a fantastic segment on 60 Minutes! Outstanding.

[m_corvinus]

What a fabulous broad!

[annd2302]

martinpion

An apology for being human, not necessary.

[Martin Pion]

My apologies for the multiple postings! Nothing happened when I clicked. Hence the repeat attempts. Hopefully I'll know better next time.

[Martin Pion]

I found the interview of Helen Mirren by Morley Safer the most entertaining and insightful I'd seen in a long while. Dame Mirren was not shy about correcting Mr. Safer's observations about her when she found them in error. And certainly the last scene on the English beach in the setting sun was evocative. As an English immigrant to the US in 1977 in my early 40s I found much to connect to, my mother and stepfather having operated a kiosk in Southend-on-Sea briefly and having grown up in a seaside town on the south coast. I was surprised by her humble beginnings and pleased by her success after a difficult early career. Thank you, 60 Minutes!

[Martin Pion]

I found the interview of Helen Mirren by Morley Safer the most entertaining and insightful I'd seen in a long while. Dame Mirren was not shy about correcting Mr. Safer's observations about her when she found them in error. And certainly the last scene on the English beach in the setting sun was evocative. As an English immigrant to the US in 1977 in my early 40s I found much to connect to, my mother and stepfather having operated a kiosk in Southend-on-Sea briefly and having grown up in a seaside town on the south coast. I was surprised by her humble beginnings and pleased by her success after a difficult early career. Thank you, 60 Minutes!

[Martin Pion]

I found the interview of Helen Mirren by Morley Safer the most entertaining and insightful I'd seen in a long while. Dame Mirren was not shy about correcting Mr. Safer's observations about her when she found them in error. And certainly the last scene on the English beach in the setting sun was evocative. As an English immigrant to the US in 1977 in my early 40s I found much to connect to, my mother and stepfather having operated a kiosk in Southend-on-Sea briefly and having grown up in a seaside town on the south coast. I was surprised by her humble beginnings and pleased by her success after a difficult early career. Thank you, 60 Minutes!

[Martin Pion]

I found the interview of Helen Mirren by Morley Safer the most entertaining and insightful I'd seen in a long while. Dame Mirren was not shy about correcting Mr. Safer's observations about her when she found them in error. And certainly the last scene on the English beach in the setting sun was evocative. As an English immigrant to the US in 1977 in my early 40s I found much to connect to, my mother and stepfather having operated a kiosk in Southend-on-Sea briefly and having grown up in a seaside town on the south coast. I was surprised by her humble beginnings and pleased by her success after a difficult early career. Thank you, 60 Minutes!

[Martin Pion]

I found the interview of Helen Mirren by Morley Safer the most entertaining and insightful I'd seen in a long while. Dame Mirren was not shy about correcting Mr. Safer's observations about her when she found them in error. And certainly the last scene on the English beach in the setting sun was evocative. As an English immigrant to the US in 1977 in my early 40s I found much to connect to, my mother and stepfather having operated a kiosk in Southend-on-Sea briefly and having grown up in a seaside town on the south coast. I was surprised by her humble beginnings and pleased by her success after a difficult early career. Thank you, 60 Minutes!