Helen Mirren on feminism: 'We're half of the human race, why are we not there on any level?'

(Image credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

last updated 24 April 2015

Helen Mirren shared her personal experiences with sexism while at Tina Brown's Women in the World summit on Thursday.

Mirren explained that watching television growing up, she was always disheartened with how few women appeared in the news, sports, or commercials. "We're half of the human race, why are we not there on any level?" Mirren said she thought to herself.

But Mirren emphasized that it's women's responsibility to rise above sexism, too. Brown praised Mirren for taking on serious roles in her career, and Mirren responded that people shouldn't be so surprised. "People often say, 'It's so terrible that women don't have great roles in movies,'" Mirren said. "I say: 'Forget that. That doesn't matter. Change roles for women in life, and you will find the roles for women in drama.'"