Aging in America as a woman

There are some actresses who have not had work done, but most have. I am always impressed with those who haven’t because they are bucking the system and saying ‘this is who I am whether you want to hire me or not’. Old women do not often get roles. Judi Dench is the exception as well as Helen Mirren, but it won’t be long. In my opinion Jane Fonda went one step too far. She looked great in Grace and Frankie and then the new season came and she looked terrible. From reading about her she regrets her last face-lift.

I get it. I understand because we live in a culture that doesn’t accept aging. Men get to do it, but women? No way. Mostly older men are accepted the way they are — for one thing they can hide it with facial hair. But for women, as soon as your hair gets gray and you have some wrinkles you become invisible. I’ve experienced it myself.

I have several friends who have had work done — not face-lifts but procedures with lasers to remove wrinkles. One of them looks fine but the other one has no wrinkles now, but her skin is pigmented. It seems that pigmentation can happen, and there isn’t much one can do about it. Meanwhile I am too much of a chicken to do what these women have done. I try hard not to get obsessed about my wrinkles and jawline. But it is hard when those around you are having their teeth whitened and having botox, fillers, etc…