Here's the thing, and perhaps other younger actresses should study this: The key to Mirren's appeal is not just her carnal sexuality, which simply oozes out of the woman naturally. And it's not just that she refuses to buckle under the pressure of "youthful" beauty standards, which makes her appear younger than actresses 20 years her junior. It's that she's her own woman. A woman who appears to enjoy sex, but also reading a good book, and truly dives into her characters onscreen. A woman with enough talent to go from playing the queen of England in "The Queen" to a brothel co- owner in "Love Ranch" to a female "Prospero" in "The Tempest" is not only a damn fine actress, but damn fine.

(Retna Ltd.)