Dame Helen Mirren reveals very simply 12-minute exercise hack that keeps her trim at 79

Dame Helen Mirren has revealed she uses a clever hack to keep keep her in shape as she approaches her 80th birthday later this year and her routine is quite shocking

Dame Helen Mirren has a very clever way of keeping on top of her appearance at 79.

The actress, who later this year will celebrate her 80th birthday, has sworn by her strict exercise routine since the 1960s and she has no intentions of slowing down. But her routine is based on a Canadian military workout and it includes toe-touching, knee-raising, jumping, leg lifting and push ups.

But Dame Helen, who remains in incredible shape and is often praised for her looks admits that while gym membership prices are on the rise, her workout can be done anywhere. The workout conceived in the 1950s by Dr. Bill Orban to spike the fitness of Canadian air force newbies has been endorsed by the Oscar-winning Dame Helen who swears you can execute it anywhere with hardly any gear.

Chatting with Woman's Weekly, Dame Helen previously revealed: "I'm a big believer in the Canadian Air Force women's exercise regime, which is 12 minutes. It is an exercise regime that starts from very low and easy, then if you follow it through, it can become quite difficult.

"I've never gotten past the second level, but it's a nice little exercise programme. Nothing extreme, but you need to do it every day." Speaking to Vogue Magazine, Dame Helen previously said: "It's all to do with taking control of yourself." The 10-step routine includes 30 seconds of toe touching, knee raises, lateral bending, and arm circling each, two minutes of sit-ups, one minute of chest and leg raises, one minute of side leg-raises, two minutes of push-ups from a kneeling position, one minute of leg lifts and three minutes of running & hopping.

Despite adhering to this strict military-style regimen, Dame Helen admitted in 2021 that she does occasionally give in to her craving for fish and chips, saying: "I'm the first one at the fish and chips," She also believes in working from the "inside out", suggesting that our diet can affect our mental wellbeing: "But what you're putting inside your body does influence how you feel about yourself, so start there."

With a career spanning over six decades and numerous appearances in films and TV shows, perhaps the pinnacle of her success was when she won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in 2006. Dame Helen's resurfaced comments come after her former relationship with Taken star Liam Neeson came to light on The Graham Norton Show.

The pair allegedly dated during the early 80s when they were starting out their career. "We didn't date; we lived together," Dame Helen said. Meanwhile, Liam added: "For four years." The pair met on the 1981 film set of Excalibur. He went on to add: "I remember being on the set and standing with [co-star] Ciarán Hinds as Helen walked towards us dressed in her full Morgana Le Fey costume, and we both went, 'Oh f*ck,'" he reminisced. "I was smitten. I think Ciarán was too, but I was very smitten!"

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