Helen Mirren praised Jane Fonda for her “radical and controversial” outlook on life during an exclusive interview at the L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Celebration held on December 2, 2023, in Los Angeles. As one of the honorees, Mirren reflected on Fonda’s remarkable journey, highlighting her energy and commitment.
Mirren, 80, stated, “One of my Women of Worth is actually another L’Oréal ambassador, and that’s Jane Fonda. I’ve always thought what an absolutely remarkable life she’s had with an incredible expanse of different experiences. Always constantly with energy, commitment, radical, controversial but always committed to life. She’s definitely one of my Women of Worth.”
Celebrating Women of Worth
The event marked the 20th anniversary of the Women of Worth program, recognizing ten honorees for their contributions to society. This year’s honorees included Yasmine Arrington Brooks, Amy Bowers Cordalis, Mizpah Brown-Rich, Keely Cat-Wells, Sloane Davidson, Lynne B Hughes, Anita Ravi, Cristina Rodriguez, Gloria Umanah, and Olivia Zhang. The star-studded event took place at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and featured other notable L’Oréal Paris global ambassadors such as Andie MacDowell, Kendall Jenner, Aja Naomi King, Gillian Anderson, Ariana Greenblatt, and Heidi Klum.
Mirren, whose career spans over six decades, expressed her own struggles with confidence during the interview. “I don’t have confidence. I have absolutely no confidence whatsoever. But I pretend I do,” she shared. “It’s always been that way. It’s just a big act.”
Upcoming Film and Directorial Debut
Looking ahead, Mirren is set to star in Kate Winslet’s directorial debut, titled Goodbye June, which will be released in select theaters on December 12, 2023, and will stream on Netflix starting on Christmas Eve. The Christmas drama, written by Winslet’s son, Joe Anders, features an ensemble cast including Toni Collette, Andrea Riseborough, and Johnny Flynn.
The film tells the poignant story of four estranged adult children who must confront their past grievances as they gather to support their mother, Mirren’s character, who is facing terminal cancer. Winslet noted the importance of this film, stating, “Joe had written a script on a screenwriting course that he was fortunate enough to be accepted onto. At the end of the course, he said to me, ‘I’ve written this thing, and you know it’s probably not great, but would you read it?’ I read it, and I realized it was very much not and could definitely be a film.”
Winslet further elaborated on her decision to direct, saying, “I found myself in a moment of realization, having spent so much of my life advocating and trying to elevate other women in male-dominated spaces. I did have a moment of thinking, ‘Well, who am I really if I’m not actually doing that thing to try and change the culture?’ So in my 50s, I did it!”
The L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Celebration not only highlighted the achievements of women like Fonda and Mirren but also served as a reminder of the ongoing impact these figures have in advocating for social change and empowerment.
