Dame Helen Mirren was recently asked to give a heart-warming Christmas message and was quick to admit this year wasn’t exactly the greatest. These past 12 months have been met with many unexpected turn of events, including the death of iconic celebrities and various acts of extreme violence.

Taking these incidents into consideration, the 71-year-old actress shocked many by describing 2016 as a “big pile of s**t.”

While on ‘The Graham Norton Show’ with Will Smith, she said: “Hello. At this time of celebration and togetherness we have the chance to reflect on the year gone by, and I think we can all agree that 2016 has been a big pile of s**t. So my advice to you is to drink responsibly and be merry. Have a very happy Christmas, but above all go see ‘Collateral Beauty‘ out on Boxing Day. That’s Helen. Out.”

The world had recently lost actor Alan Rickman, whom Helen considered a very close and dear friend. And despite being a bleak environment, the star admitted she finds memorial services “inspiring and enlightening.”

She previously said: “I’m of an age now that I start going to more memorials.

My darling friend Alan Rickman died last year; I went to his memorial, great actor. The wonderful Garry Marshall, the most brilliant, incredible American producer of television and movies.

These were such great people, so when you go to their memorial, it’s so inspiring, and also very fun, because there’s always a lot of very funny stories.

Of course you feel sad that you’ve lost your beloved friend or colleague, but you also feel so enlightened and joyful and energised about this beautiful life that this person has led.”

This has led her to learn something positive from each memorial she attends, adding: “It teaches you. I’m a great believer in learning, life is a constant learning curve, really, so I learn from these people’s lives, and I think you learn how to be a better person.”