Dame Helen Mirren has revealed that a 12-minute daily routine she’s been following for the past six decades is her secret to maintaining her fitness. The esteemed actress, known for her roles in numerous blockbuster films, enjoys keeping fit with an exercise routine originally designed for the military.
Speaking to Woman’s Weekly, 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.
“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.”
Helen Mirren is still going strong
(Image: Variety via Getty Images)
The workout, known as XBX (ten basic exercises), was developed by Dr Bill Orban in the 1950s to boost the fitness of new female recruits in the Canadian Air Force.
The 10-step routine includes 30 seconds each of toe touching, knee raises, lateral bending, arm circling, two minutes of sit-ups, one minute each of chest and leg raises, side leg-raises, two minutes of push-ups from a kneeling position, one minute of leg lifts and three minutes of running and hopping.
Despite adhering to a strict military routine, the 79 year old admitted to occasionally indulging in an unhealthy habit. “I’m the first one at the fish and chips,” she confessed in 2021, reports Surrey Live.
She also shared her belief that our diet can affect our mental wellbeing, advising to work from the “inside out”. “What you’re putting inside your body does influence how you feel about yourself, so start there.”
Over a career spanning more than six decades, with numerous film and TV appearances, the actress’ pinnacle moment was perhaps when she received an Academy Award for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in 2006.