Dame Helen Mirren unveiled a daring new look as she dyed her hair blue for  Cannes Film Festival’s opening night yesterday.

The actress, 77, showcased her unique sense of style as she perfectly matched the colour of her quirky new do to her gorgeous gown. 

Later in the evening, the L’Oréal ambassador donned a sexy black lace dress as she left the ‘Jeanne du Barry’ the screening and premiere at the event.

It’s a far cry from Helen’s usual beauty look, which sees her style her signature silver locks into a soft bob on the red carpet.

Helen has previously vowed to defy beauty standards for older women, insisting her generation has been subject for ageism for ‘far too long.’

Dame Helen Mirren, 77, unveiled a daring new look as she dyed her hair blue for Cannes Film Festival’s opening night yesterday

Later in the evening, the L’Oréal ambassador donned a sexy black lace dress as she attended an after party at the event toting a Champagne Luna Clutch by luxury brand Aspinal of London retailing for £1,250

Recent months have seen Helen abandon her signature bob for long platinum waves in a flashback to her 70s heyday. 

She told Grazia in 2019: ‘It’s extremely annoying to women of my generation and others following mine to have beauty products sold on a 15-year-old face.’ 

The actress debuted her sleek blonde locks as she attended the Golda premiere and European Shooting Stars 2023 ceremony at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in Germany in February.

She looked every inch the glamorous screen siren as she wore a floor-length black dress with a low-cut neckline. 

Her golden hair was styled into loose waves, with her tresses tumbling down across her shoulders and down her back.

Hair stylist Tom Smith told FEMAIL at the time there was a myth that mature women ‘shouldn’t wear longer hair’, explaining: ‘The myth comes from the fact that as we age the density of our hair naturally reduces.

‘This is a normal part of ageing as the hair cycle slows down and the hair shedding can increase-this is where that old myth comes from that you can’t wear your hair long after a certain age. 

‘But thanks to the latest science that we have available, products can make hair on the head just a strong, as healthy and as fortified as possible.

‘There is also a lot to do with bio-identical hormones when it comes to peri-menopause and menopause that can limit the amount of hair loss or hair thinning that a woman can experience as they age naturally.

‘From a hair point of view, there is no real need to cut the hair short after a certain age as long as the hair is healthy and as long as the hair cut is well maintained.

‘In the hair salon I use a lot of hair fillers that are micro-sized extension bonds which are the quarter of the size of a traditional hair extension, so completely undetectable.

‘These are not necessarily designed for length but they are fantastic at adding in density or thickness.’

It’s a far cry from Helen’s usual beauty look, which sees her style her signature silver locks into a soft bob and opting for smart ensembles on the red carpet (pictured in 2007) 

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Experimenting: The actress is known for usually wearing her hair in a statement bob (left) or even shorter but began showing off her longer hair in February (right)

He continued: ‘Women typically see hair thinning/loss around their hair line such as temples and front hair line, and micro-sized extensions can add extra density which is what I suspect is what has been done with Helen Mirren. 

‘She would have had additional clip ins or extensions put in at the Berlin Film Festival but if she was wearing them in real life, the back of the hair will grow thick and strong but the front will be wispy and fine, so the hair filler/micro bonds can be a really good solution. 

‘They need to be maintained every three months and can start from anywhere from a few hundred pounds up to a thousand plus, depending on the length and quality of the hair.’

And last year, Helen hit back at the stereotype that older women ‘shouldn’t’ grow out their hair, after debuting her new longer tresses.

The actress showed off her ‘radical’ new look while promoting her appearance as the villain Hespera in Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

She admitted she grew out her hair during lockdown and decided she ‘couldn’t be bothered’ to cut it, and is planning to keep it for the timebeing.

Speaking on Lorraine, Helen hit back at the stereotype that older women are not ‘supposed’ to have long hair as it generally it thins with age.

She said: ‘You’re not supposed to have longer hair after a certain age.

‘But during Covid, I started growing my hair and I hadn’t actually had long hair since I was in my 20s. And it sort of grew and grew and grew, and I couldn’t be bothered to cut it, basically.

‘I thought, do you know what, it’s pretty cool, I think I’ll stick with it for a little while. It will come off eventually.

‘But I’m kind of enjoying it, it’s quite radical.’

All eyes on blue: Dame Helen debuted new blue hair during Cannes Film Festival’s opening night on Tuesday

What a look! Helen confidently modelled her bright colourful locks at the Jeanne du Barry premiere

What a transformation! She swept her newly dyed locks high into a Marie Antoinette style Pouf

Glamour: She completed the look with dainty jewellery as well as a clutch from luxury brand Aspinal of London

Helen also discussed how she feels flying the flag for women over 60, saying: ‘Life doesn’t stop. And creativity doesn’t stop and passion doesn’t stop and energy doesn’t stop, unless you decide to stop it.

‘So it’s just be self-motivated, really, and never give up. And find enjoyment, if it’s possible in your life.’

She also said she doesn’t like using the term ‘beauty’ because it makes people who are insecure about their looks feel ‘immediately excluded’.

‘They’ll think, ‘Well, I’m not very beautiful. It’s all very well for all these beautiful women, but I don’t feel beautiful’,’ she explained.

‘I don’t want to exclude these people from feeling fabulous about themselves.’

The L’Oréal ambassador swept her newly dyed locks high into a Marie Antoinette style Pouf, to match the movie’s French historic theme

Helen, Thierry Fremaux, Qian Hui leave the ‘Jeanne du Barry’ the screening and premiere at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals

Helen looked sensational in the figure-hugging satin frock that boasted a plunging neckline and sculpted skirt. 

The L’Oréal ambassador swept her newly dyed locks high into a Marie Antoinette style Pouf, to match the movie’s French historic theme, as she posed with a fan that read ‘Worth it’ – the hair brand’s famous slogan.

Accentuating her features with make-up she completed the look with a diamond necklace and matching earrings. 

She completed the look with a pair of towering Remy: Silver Suede & Snake platforms by luxury brand Sole Bliss retailing for £199.