Dame Helen Mirren knows how to command a screen — and now, apparently, a garden. The Oscar-winning actress surprised audiences on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon earlier this week when she dropped an unexpected science lesson about one of summer’s most beloved fruits: the tomato.
“A tomato is a bisexual thing, you see,” Mirren, 80, casually remarked while chatting with host Jimmy Fallon on the August 11 episode. The statement was met with gasps, laughter, and confusion from the studio audience — and a look of amused disbelief from Fallon himself.
“Well, it is!” she insisted, unfazed by the reaction.
The 1923 and Thursday Murder Club star explained that she recently encountered a tomato-growing dilemma in her own garden, leading to a revelation about how tomatoes reproduce.
“I just want to give you a tip about growing tomatoes,” she said, switching effortlessly from movie icon to gardening guru. “You know the little flower? Well, a good way to get a tomato out of a flower is you have to tremble the flower.”
As she demonstrated the “trembling” technique with her finger, Fallon recoiled with an awkward laugh.
“Stop doing that,” he said, jokingly waving her off. “I’m not doing that at all to my tomatoes.”
But it turns out Mirren’s tip wasn’t just cheeky innuendo — it was actual science.
A Tomato Sex Ed Moment, Courtesy of Dame Helen
According to agricultural research from the University of Maryland and other sources, Mirren is absolutely correct. Tomato plants have what are called “perfect” or “complete” flowers, which means they contain both male and female reproductive organs. That technically makes them self-pollinating — or, yes, in botanical terms, “bisexual.”
While many tomatoes pollinate themselves naturally through wind and insect activity, a gentle shake or “tremble” of the flower can help dislodge pollen and stimulate fruit development. This method is often used by greenhouse growers and home gardeners alike to increase their tomato yield.
So, Mirren’s gardening hack may sound provocative, but it’s also grounded in real-world horticultural wisdom. Who knew tomatoes had such a compelling sex life?
Mirren’s Not New to Dropping Truth Bombs
This isn’t the first time Helen Mirren has turned a seemingly mundane topic into something inspiring (or viral). In April 2024, she made headlines for reflecting on aging and embracing each life stage with grace and wit.
“My mother said the greatest thing to me: ‘Never be afraid of getting older,’” she said in an interview with E! News. “Of course, when you’re 18, middle age is like a foreign country. It’s so far away from you. But, you know, when you arrive in that country, you realize that country has great things. Maybe you like that country better than the country you left behind.”
As a performer, Mirren has long embodied complexity, wit, and unapologetic individuality — both onscreen and off. Whether she’s playing royalty, solving crimes, or shaking tomato plants into submission, she’s fully committed.
From Shakespeare to Salsa
The viral moment occurred while Mirren appeared on the show to promote The Thursday Murder Club, her latest film alongside co-star Pierce Brosnan. As Fallon prepared a homemade salsa during a segment, the conversation took a turn from tomatoes as ingredients to tomatoes as…well, sexually independent plants.
And in true Dame Helen fashion, she didn’t hesitate to educate — even if it meant flustering the host.
It’s yet another reason why Mirren remains a beloved icon across generations: she’s glamorous, brilliant, and never afraid to ruffle feathers (or flowers). From her celebrated film career to her unexpected gardening wisdom, she continues to serve up surprises.
So the next time you’re out in the garden, gently shaking a tomato flower, remember — you have Dame Helen Mirren to thank for that fruity foreplay.
And yes, tomatoes are bisexual. Who said science can’t be sexy?
