Helen Mirren, 79, credits military workout for keeping her in shape for 60 years
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Dame Helen Mirren has revealed her secret to staying in shape is a 12-minute workout routine she's been doing for the last 60 years. The 79-year-old acclaimed actress, known for her roles in some of Hollywood's biggest films, told Woman's Weekly that she keeps fit with a simple exercise plan that doesn't require splashing out on gym memberships. She swears by the Canadian Air Force women's exercise regime, which takes just 12 minutes.
Dame Helen shared: "[Exercise] doesn't mean joining expensive gyms. I'm a big believer in the Canadian Air Force women's exercise regime which is 12 minutes." She added that the routine starts easy and can get tougher: "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." The XBX (ten basic exercises) routine was created by Dr Bill Orban in the 1950s for the Canadian Air Force's new female recruits to improve their fitness. It includes half a minute each of toe touching, knee raises, lateral bending, and arm circling, plus two minutes of sit-ups, one minute of chest and leg raises, another minute of side leg-raises, two minutes of push-ups from a kneeling position, one minute of leg lifts, and a three-minute mix of running and hopping, reports Bristol Live.
Despite sticking to a strict military regimen, the 79-year-old conceded she sometimes gives in to a guilty pleasure. "I'm the first one at the fish and chips," she admitted back in 2021. She also expressed her conviction that our diet impacts our mental health, recommending a focus on internal wellness, saying: "But what you're putting inside your body does influence how you feel about yourself, so start there.".
