No matter how hard anyone tries, you can’t turn back the clock. These 5 celebrities have spoken about aging in Hollywood, being aware that actresses can quickly approach their supposed ‘sell by’ date. Commenting on how that has made them feel, these stars have opened up on the cruel way Hollywood treats older actresses and how they make it work.
Emily Blunt
Emily says she accepts how things are: “I’ll be up for playing a mum soon. It’s all right. Everyone gets older. I’m ready. I’ve got another eight years of hopefully being relatively attractive before I have to be a witch.”
Jamie thinks that how quickly you’re considered old is just cruel: “It’s a very cruel business. It’s humiliating to see the media frenzy that occurs when somebody gets older and they don’t look the way they used to look. I want to make sure I leave on my own terms. I don’t want to be punished for the natural evolution of a human being.”
Melanie believes that people see you as old in Hollywood after the age of 40: “By the time you’re 40 in Los Angeles, you’re over the hill in the business. It takes women that are strong enough to actually change the perception.”
Tina says it is a challenge to age in the spotlight: “The greatest challenge for me as an actress is just getting older. Trying to play the scene at hand while also trying to hold your face up. Fast-forward to being 68, and it’s a glorious act of bravery.”
Viola has made sure she is not valued for her appearance so she hopes aging won’t matter when it comes to roles: “What’s released me most from the fear of aging is self-awareness. I’ve never determined my value based on my looks or anything physical. I’ve been through a lot in life, and what has gotten me through is strength of character and faith.”