I don't like the word 'strong,' because a strong character is never an interesting character. A character is made interesting by their vulnerabilities and their weaknesses.
Interpretation
Strength in character comes from vulnerability and imperfections, not from being unyielding.
Helen Mirren's quote challenges the traditional notion of strength in character, suggesting that it is the vulnerabilities and weaknesses that make a person interesting. It implies that embracing our flaws can create depth in our personality, transforming us into more relatable and compelling individuals rather than mere representations of strength.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about personal development and self-acceptance.
There is that awful moment when you realize that you're falling in love. That should be the most joyful moment, and actually it's not. It's always a moment that's full of fear because you know, as night follows day, the joy is going to rapidly be followed by some pain or other. All the angst of a relationship.
People often ask me whether I prefer theater or film, and the answer is that I prefer the one I'm not doing: The grass is always greener.
I've been working every year since I started acting, and I got many awards before I won the Oscar for 'The Queen.'
I believe kids shouldn't be taught Shakespeare. They should experience it first by seeing a great production.
I am in a fabulously lucky position in that I get to wear beautiful, beautiful gowns for functions, which I can then give back. That way, they're not sitting in my wardrobe with me looking at them and feeling guilty. I love that, and I think when people have a fabulous function to go to, I'd recommend renting.
Fear can be one of the most destructive emotions. It is, of course, also very important, in that fear sometimes stops you from doing stupid things. But it can also stop you from doing creative or exciting or experimental things. It can cloud your judgement of others, and lead to all kinds of evil. The control and understanding of our personal fears is one of the most important undertakings of our lives.
Religions have always stressed that compassion is not only central to religious life, it is the key to enlightenment and it the true test of spirituality. But there have always have been those who'd rather put easier goals, like doctrine conformity, in place.
They stormed and jeered at one another in long meaningless words of about twenty syllables each.
Weβre only here for a short while. And I think itβs such a lucky accident, having been born, that weβre almost obliged to pay attention.
Today we continue a never ending journey to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time.
Indeed, there is no such thing as an altogether ugly woman β or altogether beautiful.
Some of mankind's most terrible misdeeds have been committed under the spell of certain magic words or phrases.
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