She didn't do *this* in The Queen. Photo: Perou for Esquire Magazine
Good lord! We know that Helen Mirren is a very hot lady - it's one of those celebrity facts, like 'Michelle Obama has wonderfully toned arms', 'Liz Hurley wears split skirts' and 'Lindsay Lohan has more pairs of leggings than a Topshop warehouse' - but every time we see a saucy shot of her we're still very much in awe.
Her latest semi-clad outing is for the cover of Esquire (US not UK - sorry!) with only a Union Jack protecting her modesty. Our jaws promptly hit the floor and our brows knitted together with jealousy.
Reflecting on her absent wardrobe, Mirren reveals she's not keen on spending thousands on designer outfits: "The whole thing of clothes is insane. You can spend a dollar on a jacket in a thrift store. And you can spend a thousand dollars on a jacket in a shop. And if you saw those two jackets walking down the street, you probably wouldn't know which was which."
She also offers the following insight into being twenty-something (reassuring, no?): "The hardest period in life is one's twenties. It's a shame because you're your most gorgeous and you're physically in peak condition. But it's actually when you're most insecure and full of self-doubt. When you don't know what's going to happen, it's frightening."
But just in case you were thinking 'Oh, she's just a normal lady, perhaps I won't choke on my own jealousy after all' just have a read of this anecdote: "Right after winning the Oscar, when everyone was going home, they let these little gold Oscary shapes flutter down from the ceiling. Leonardo DiCaprio came over, bowed down, and kissed my hand. It was the most fabulous moment - such a lovely gesture. He didn't say anything."
You can find the full interview in the August 2011 issue of Esquire, available via the Esquire app in the iTunes store.