Dame Helen Mirren feels concerned by the influence of social media.

The 80-year-old actress believes social media pressures men and women to meet unrealistic beauty standards.

Speaking to Elle, Helen explained: "If women or men are seriously diminished, defeated, or depressed when they look in the mirror and are brought down by what they see, and they have the financial ability and the mental ability or whatever to change it, fine.

"I do think because of social media and what apps can do, you [can] look at the reality and you get literally depressed. I think that's a very, very sad state of affairs."

Helen actually suggested investing in good lighting as an alternative to getting a face lift.

The movie star said: "Before contemplating anything, get really good lighting in your bathroom so that whenever you look in the mirror, you are lit beautifully and look great ... It's a lot cheaper than getting a facelift.

"I am serious about the good lighting in the bathroom.

"Bad lighting is so depressing. I think it would be a terrible mistake to get plastic surgery when you're in your twenties. Your face changes. I don't like to criticise or attack people for doing what makes them happy. But to try to look like a fake picture of yourself would be terrible."

Meanwhile, Helen recently confessed that she relishes the "roller coaster adventure" of acting.

The actress has enjoyed a hugely successful career in the movie business, starring films such as The Queen, Hitchcock, Eye in the Sky, and Red, and Helen admits that she still gets a huge thrill from appearing on-screen.

The award-winning star told Variety: "The roller coaster adventure is the most exciting."

Helen has always considered herself to be a "rogue and a vagabond", and she feels proud of what she's achieved in her career on stage and screen.

Helen said: "I identify more with that side of my profession than anything grand or, for lack of a better word, posh.

"I started in the theatre in a communal sense, where you are all in it together, you know. It wasn't a star system or anything like that. That was my first love of performing, of telling stories … My whole life has been spent now, not so much camping out by the side of the street, but certainly in hotels. My whole life has been packing and unpacking."