Helen Mirren's Supportive Spouse

Helen Mirren's Supportive Spouse

Dame Helen Mirren thinks mutual support is the key to a good marriage.

The 'Last Station' actress - who married director Taylor Hackford in 1997 after dating for 11 years - claims their relationship works so well because they always encourage one another.

She said: "This is no bulls**t; the reason I'm still with Taylor is because he supports me in my work, he's proud of my successes and he's sympathetic if things aren't successful. If they aren't, he'll say, 'F**k 'em darling. You were great.' And I do likewise."

Despite her happiness in her marriage, Helen admits she never wanted to settle down and is always surprised by how much she likes being a wife.

She added: "Some people like the familiar and love being rooted. I didn't want roots. And I really, really, really didn't want to grow up, get married and settle down.

"I was with my husband for years before we married. It's nice to be married. I love it. And that took me by surprise. But there's really no essential differences to being married."