Helen Mirren Says She Avoids Doctors, Turns to AI for Health Advice: ‘And It’s Working’

Vanessa EtienneMon, September 14, 2026 at 5:20 PM UTC

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Helen MirrenCredit: Daniele Venturelli/Getty -

Helen Mirren revealed she avoids doctors and uses AI for health advice, calling it “amazing”

The Oscar winner said she’s the “opposite” of a hypochondriac

She previously credited diet and daily exercise for maintaining her health over the years

Helen Mirren admitted that she’s one of the many people who have turned to AI for health advice.

On Sunday, Sept. 13, the 81-year-old spoke to Entertainment Weekly at the Toronto International Film Festival alongside her A Talent for Murder costars Alden Ehrenreich and Olivia Cooke.

During the interview, Ehrenreich and Cooke shared that they bonded with each other on set because they’re both self-proclaimed hypochondriacs.

Mirren then chimed in, sharing, “I ought to be diagnosed with the opposite of hypochondria, I just completely ignore everything.”

Ehrenreich questioned if the Oscar winner avoids going to the doctor. Mirren replied: “Totally deny. I avoid doctors. Oh no, totally. And it’s working.”

Meanwhile, Ehrenreich teased that he would be “thrilled” if he could “just have a doctor live in my house.”

“Well, you do,” Mirren said. “It’s called AI.”

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“You know, AI is amazing. ‘It hurts, but it doesn’t hurt that much!’ Oh, it’s incredible,” she added.

Helen MirrenCredit: Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty

Although she’s avoiding doctor visits, Mirren has still managed to stay on top of her health over the years. She previously told Vogue that she prioritizes doing the “work from the inside out.”

“First of all, take control of your diet and find one that makes you feel good,” she said. “I’m the first one at the fish and chips, but what you’re putting inside your body does influence how you feel about yourself, so start there. The next thing is exercise, which doesn’t mean joining expensive gyms.”

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Mirren told the outlet that she’s been a “big believer” in the Canadian Air Force’s XBX exercise routine, doing it every day for the past 60 years. The 12-minute regimen involves 10 basic exercises that target all muscle groups.

“It is an exercise regime that starts from very low and easy, then if you follow it through, it can become quite difficult,” the actress explained. “I’ve never gotten past the second level, but it’s a nice little exercise program. Nothing extreme, but you need to do it every day. That’s a great start, because it’s all to do with taking control of yourself.”

“I’m incredibly lazy and if I can avoid doing it, I will, but every now and then I pull myself back and do what I know works,” she said.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”