Rachel Ward, the 68-year-old star of the 1980s drama miniseries The Thorn Birds, has responded to online trolls who mocked her appearance in a recent video, calling the expectation to maintain a youthful look 'grotesque.'
The former British-Australian actor, whose last major film role was in 2016's The Death and Life of Otto Bloom, now lives a quiet life in New South Wales, Australia, where she runs a regenerative beef cattle farm with her husband, actor Bryan Brown.
In December, Ward posted an Instagram video thanking followers for their kind messages while discussing her neighbors and farm work. However, internet trolls left hurtful comments about how she had 'aged really badly.'
Addressing the backlash in a new interview with Australian Story, Ward said: 'A few trolls were a bit shocked about my grey 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.” I’m so past caring about what people think about one’s appearance or age.'
She criticized societal pressure on women, especially public figures, to maintain a youthful appearance, stating: 'That whole harping … that we still have to be sexual beings is terrifying. To have to have our bums lifted and our breasts lifted and our faces drawn back. It just becomes grotesque. All I can say is that it’s great to put that behind you, how you should look and be.'
Ward previously responded to the negative chatter in January, urging others to 'not fear aging.' She described it as 'a wonderful period of life' and said she is 'more fulfilled than ever,' with 'no regrets leaving my youth and beauty behind.'
'I’m not youthful, but I am a very happy camper,' she continued. 'Later years are to be exalted and welcomed. 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.'
In the caption of the video, she joked: '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.'
Ward rose to fame as Meghan 'Meggie' Cleary in The Thorn Birds opposite the late Richard Chamberlain. She also appeared in 1980s horror and thriller films, including Campsite Masacre (1983), Against All Odds (1984), and Fortress (1985). Her 2009 directorial debut, Beautiful Kate, earned her AACTA Award nominations for Best Direction and Best Screenplay.
Her farming journey became the basis for the 2023 documentary Rachel’s Farm, which she directed and co-wrote.
