At a Glance
- Rachel Ward, 68, went viral after posting a farm video that drew comments on her natural aging
- The Thorn Birds star used Instagram to thank defenders and urge others to embrace getting older
- “I am more fulfilled than ever and I have no regrets, leaving my youth and beauty behind,” she wrote
- Why it matters: Her message counters social-media pressure to chase youth through cosmetic work
Rachel Ward is brushing off critics who say she looks older than her 68 years. The actress, famous for her 1983 role as Meggie Cleary in The Thorn Birds, posted a cattle-farm clip that quickly shifted from agriculture to age-shaming-and she answered with a celebration of life in her 60s.
From Miniseries Icon to Farmer
Ward and husband Bryan Brown, 78, run a beef-cattle operation in Australia. The couple met on the set of the epic mini-series four decades ago and traded red-carpet premieres for paddocks and pastures. A recent promotional video for their farm drew praise from fans-and unsolicited remarks from trolls saying Ward had “let herself go.”
A Direct Message to Critics
On January 15 Ward uploaded an Instagram video addressing the backlash.
“Dear those of you who responded to the brouhaha over the trolls criticizing my appearance, I have tried to do a little better today. I ran my hands through my hair, etc. but anyways, just to say, do not fear aging,” she began.
She went on to list what her later years have brought:
- Greater fulfillment than ever before
- Freedom from regret over lost youth
- Appreciation for gifts that only surface with age
“It’s a wonderful period of life, in your 60s,” she insisted. “You wait until you get there. They have so many other gifts to bestow that you have no idea what they are until you get there.”
Thanking the Support Wave
The actress said she was “overwhelmed” by the number of followers who leapt to her defense.
“Don’t worry about me,” she added. “I do recognize that we’re all a little bit worried about losing our youth and resorting to rather drastic ways of holding on to it, but let it go. Let it go and much bounty will come.”
Ward closed with gratitude: “Anyway, I just thank you from [my heart]. It was amazing to receive that response from you all.”
Key Takeaways
- Ward’s experience shows even stars who leave Hollywood can face harsh scrutiny
- Her reply flips the narrative, framing aging as a gain, not a loss
- Social-media defenders outnumbered critics, suggesting audience fatigue with age-shaming
- The actress joins a small but growing list of public figures rejecting cosmetic pressure
