Following allegations of sexual assault and harassment levied against several male members of Hollywood in recent months, Dame Helen Mirren has revealed men would regularly 'expose' themselves to her as a young woman.

In a preview clip of her Today interview with Willie Geist, scheduled to air on Sunday, the 72-year-old admitted that while she hasn't experience sexual misconduct in her acting career, she did during her formative years as a woman.

'I had never experienced that ... in Hollywood,' she said, referring to sexual harassment.

'Because I came to Hollywood, I was in my 30s. I was too old. It doesn't happen to you unless you're very young.

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'When I was in between 16 and 23, 24 - men would expose themselves to me often, I would say about once a week ... on the subway, on the tube, on the bus, walking down a road and it was like, "Ugh".

Like most women, she never understood the motive behind the exposure.

'It's not like you're gonna go, "Oh my god, that's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. It's the opposite. It's horror",' she said.

When previously questioned what she'd tell her younger self by Allure magazine, The Queen star replied: 'It'd be to say 'F**k off' more and stop being so bloody polite.

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'In those days, you had to. It's hard to explain how difficult it is to overcome the culture. You become a voice in the wilderness. No one wants to listen.'

Revealing that she thinks things have changed for women 'substantially' in the entertainment industry, the British actress added: 'There is a pressure mounting behind a dam, and I hope that that dam is finally bursting in terms of women directors and women-led dramas.

'When I first did Prime Suspect they were not at all sure that a female-led drama would be acceptable to the public.

'So that's how much things have changed since we first began 'Prime Suspect'. It's changed hugely.'

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While other famous actresses such as Brigitte Bardot have openly criticised the Time's Up and #MeToo movements, aiming to promote equality and out sexual misconduct allegations, Mirren said she's overjoyed to see the tide turning.

'This moment in time, this last sort of four or five months has been an enormous shift going on,' Mirren said.

'It's been coming. And I say "Time's up". Well it's about time time's up. You know, it's taken a long time to get here.'

Well said, Helen.

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