Allison Janney has credited Helen Mirren with inspiring her to embrace her natural grey hair.

The West Wing star ditched her usual brunette locks for a grey pixie cut last year, and in a new interview, she revealed that her ‘do was heavily influenced by the British actress.

In a chat with People TV’s One Last Thing, Janney told host Jeremy Parsons that after spotting grey hairs while cooped up inside during the Covid-19 lockdown, she decided to let her natural colour shine.

“It started out with just Covid choices, you know. I was in Ohio for five months of the pandemic. My natural colour started growing in – which is grey. And then I thought, you know, I’ve always wanted to cut it off and do a Helen Mirren thing. I just wanted to try it,” Janney explained.

“I just get very brave with my hair,” the 61-year-old quipped, as Parsons said her hair “looked fantastic”.

Janney’s hairstylist Jill Crosby took to Instagram in November to heap praise on the actress for ditching her shoulder-length bob and opting for a daring pixie cut instead.

“I’ve never worked with anyone who gives me more creative freedom than this gorgeous creature,” Crosby wrote alongside a snap of Janney, as she said the star’s hairdo was “so chic”.

And Janney isn’t the only one embracing her natural grey hair.

Fellow actress Andie MacDowell recently debuted her silver-tinged locks on social media, and said she was encouraged by her daughters Rainey and Margaret Qualley.

“They kept telling me that I looked bada*s. And that idea that I could look bada*s appealed to me. So I went for it, and I’m loving it,” she shared.

– Cover Media