![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/79\/590x\/secondary\/michael-parkinson-bbc-interview-4989439.jpg?r=1696251123390\")
<\/p>\n
One question he asked her was whether her “physical attributes” hindered her desire to be viewed as a “serious actress”.<\/p>\n
Helen quickly lost her temper and said: “You mean my fingers? Come on, spit it out.<\/p>\n
“Serious actresses can’t have big bosoms, is that what you mean?”<\/p>\n
Helen later called him “sexist” and described the chat as “enraging”.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Parkinson never apologised at the time, but later regretted his comments during an interview in 2019 with Piers Morgan.<\/p>\n He said: “I feel it’s of its time, and of its time it’s embarrassing. It was over the top, absolutely so.”<\/p>\n The interview has since been unearthed and went viral online, which led to Helen breaking her silence in a recent interview with Radio Times.<\/p>\n “I didn\u2019t feel sorry for Parky, but then in a way I did because in lots of ways he was right,” she recalled.<\/p>\n “My physicality did get in the way of me being taken seriously as a classical actress.”<\/p>\n Speaking about how times have now changed, she added: “Yes, yes they really do. And fast. And we can only kick down the patriarchy one brick at a time.”<\/p>\n Parkinson’s chat show first aired on the BBC in June 1971 and ran intermittently across various channels until 2014.<\/p>\n
Strictly’s Les Dennis had four-word response to show bosses after exit[WATCH] <\/strong>
Strictly week 3 – Sexism storm, pro Karen bites back and Les voted out[LATEST] <\/strong>
Strictly’s Zara McDermott ‘overwhelmed’ with tears during tense moment on show[OPINION] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/79\/264x\/4989427.jpg?r=1696251123441\")
Helen Mirren has responded to the interview backlash [Radio Times]<\/span><\/p>\n