By Michaela Gordoni
THE THORN BIRDS star Rachel Ward has something to say about women aging.
“I was a catalyst for a conversation that I think people had been challenged by,” she said in a clip on Instagram. “Women weren’t allowed to have a wrinkle, weren’t allowed to go gray. Why do we feel we’ve got to pretend that we’re still 40 when we’re 68?”
“The more wretched I looked, the more followers I have,” she admitted. “How ironic that my going gray actually garnered me more attention than if I’d taken my top off.”
In another video, Ward joked to her trolls that she made some more effort in her appearance.
She joked, “I ran my hands through my hair, etc., but anyways, just to say, do not fear aging. It’s a wonderful period of life in your 60s.”
Some of the comments said she was “unrecognizable” or that she’s aged terribly, The Looker reported.
Related: Chip Gaines Shares Some Relatable Thoughts About Aging
She told ABC, “A few trolls were a bit shocked about my gray hair, who maybe hadn’t seen me since I was 24, and then went, ‘Oh my God, that’s what you end up looking like.’”
Ward recalled that in the ’80s, everything was about sexuality (and it kind of still is).
“It’s very empty, and it’s very unsatisfying. It took me a long time to feel that I had value as a woman,” she said, adding that it’s “terrifying” to be “sexual beings” and to “have to have our bums lifted and our breasts lifted and our faces drawn back. It just becomes grotesque.”
The former actress, who’s now a farmer, is happy with how she looks now.
“I’m so past caring about what people think about one’s appearance or age,” Ward said. “All I want to hear is, ‘Actually, Rachel’s cows are looking pretty good.'”
In the caption of one video, she said, “Overwhelmed by the generosity that poured forth after a few fearful trolls went on the attack of my rather unkempt appearance before Christmas. I’m a farmer now but really should do my hair and apply some lippy before I go on social media. Apologies for frightening a few of you.”
“I would crawl under a rock but very keen to promote my new initiative @Farmthru_ where you can buy Delicious regen steaks, chooks, eggs, pork and lamb at a curb side hub in the Northern Beaches,” she said.
Part of Ward’s resistance to putting appearance on a pedestal comes from her father’s influence.
“What do you need an education for? You are pretty enough to marry someone very rich,” her father told her.
Because of that, she became a model and, later, an actress.
“You were really not of any value unless it was your sexuality,” Ward recalled.
Ward knows her value has nothing to do with her appearance. Many people would possibly be wiser and happier if they thought the same way.
Read Next: Kathie Lee Gifford’s Secret to Aging Well? Leaning on the Lord
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