Actress Rachel Ward has received a wave of celebrity support after facing vicious online trolling for sharing a natural, makeup-free photograph. The 68-year-old star of The Thorn Birds was targeted by cruel comments on a recent Instagram post, prompting fellow actress Sarah Jessica Parker to leap to her defence.
A Wave of Support from Hollywood
The incident began last month when Ward, who now runs an ethical cattle farm in Australia's Nambucca Valley with her husband Bryan Brown, 78, posted a selfie to promote her Farmthru initiative. The seemingly innocent post, thanking customers for their support, was met with a barrage of mean-spirited remarks about her appearance.
In response, Sarah Jessica Parker, 60, left a powerful comment on a post by Ward's daughter condemning the trolls. 'She is sincerely beautiful. For real. No qualifiers. Just a beauty. I'm sure inside and out. Xxx,' the Sex and the City icon wrote.
She was joined by other high-profile names, including actress Zoe Saldana, who declared: 'Your mother is stunning!!! Always has been.' TV presenter Sarah Cawood also added her voice, stating: 'She's stunning. Always was. Still is.'
Ward's Eloquent Response on Ageing
Following the online backlash, Rachel Ward addressed the controversy directly in a follow-up Instagram post last Friday. With characteristic wit, she joked about making more of an effort with her hair before posting, but the core of her message was a profound celebration of getting older.
'Do not fear ageing, it's a wonderful period of life,' Ward advised her followers. 'In [my] 60s, I am more fulfilled than ever and I have no regrets over leaving my youth and beauty behind.'
She acknowledged the poet John Keats's link between youth and beauty but countered with her own experience. 'Well, I'm not youthful, but I'm a very happy camper and later years are to be exalted and welcomed,' she said, encouraging others that 'much bounty will come' from letting go of the fear of ageing.
Overwhelming Public and Peer Approval
Ward's dignified stance resonated widely. Her post was met with another flood of supportive messages. Celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge and former Block judge Neale Whitaker praised her, with Whitaker writing: 'What a beautiful, generous and eloquent response... I'm actually loving [my 60s].'
Many followers echoed the sentiment that ageing is an honour and a privilege, applauding Ward's grace. In an exclusive talk with the Daily Mail, Ward revealed the trolling 'absolutely didn't ruffle my feathers', stating she was merely a catalyst for an important conversation about society's pressure on women to cling to youth.
'I just feel sorry for those poor souls who fear ageing so much,' she reflected. 'They will learn that it's ultimate freedom as a woman to let youth and beauty go.' The actress, who married Bryan Brown in 1983 after meeting on the set of The Thorn Birds, stands by her choice to age naturally, free from cosmetic procedures, and has inspired many with her refreshing perspective.
