Sharon Stone recently commented that Meryl Streep looks like “an unmade bed.’”
That’s some unmade bed. Not only did Streep look ravishing and natural at this month’s Golden Globes, she is acting circles around her over-Botoxed frozen-faced peers in her golden years. ‘Gold’ as in lotsa shiny statues: Streep garnered double-whammy Globe nominations and is a favorite for the ultimate Golden Boy, Oscar. 
And how about a true Golden Girl, 88 year old Betty White, who stole the show at the SAG awards?
Helen Mirran hits the beach
Note to Stone and Heidi Montag: film acting can be enhanced by movable facial muscles.
I asked blog fave Caitlin McCarthy– who alerted me to Stone’s comment– which other actresses besides la Streep seem to be aging gracefully. Caitlin’s list:
“Helen Mirren, Julie Christie, Jacqueline Bisset, Sophia Loren, Susan Sarandon, Candice Bergen, and Patricia Clarkson all look natural and beautiful — not like plastic people.”
True, these ladies have had a ‘little help from their friends’ but they have eschewed the drastic knife-work of less gutsy stars. Cheers to these ‘It Women’.
Who is your fave. from the big or small screen? Oprah? Diane Sawyers? Blog fave Julianna Margulies? Send in your own nominees as we celebrate celebrity women of a certain age, who aren’t afraid to ‘own it’…
PS: Great additional List suggestions on Comments: Anjelica Huston, Diane Ladd, Judi Dench, Jessica Lange…PPS: plus Cloris Leachman, Glenn Close & Angela Lansbury…& Lauren Bacall!
(photos: Meryl Streep:kidk.com; Helen M: audi-sport.net; Oprah: Googleimages; Julie C: cinematical.com; Betty W: mjtimes.sk.cn)
hey i love to see all these womens’ faces together.
the clip of heidi m. is scary.
the pictures say it all. betty white, i love her especially
Hi Livvy and THANKS–
Yes, I had fun putting together this little montage of faces, and I agree the Heidi clip IS scary–
THANKS to CAITLIN for sending in that Montag clip and for inspiring this post…
Forgot to include Diane Lane and Angelica Huston on my list of beautiful women aging gracefully. LOVE THEM.
YES to both of them and they are such wonderful actresses too (no coincidence)–
Anjelica Huston is a particular fave. of mine and I love it that her fascinating face is not the standard starlet face at all–
She has such depth and power in her performances and I think she’s going to have some spectacular roles in her older years–
THANKS again Caitlin for inspiring this array of ‘gracefully aging’ stars…
Don’t forget Judi Dench, who said, “I think you should take your job seriously, but not yourself – that is the best combination.”
Wow, what great words of wisdom to start the day.
THANKS Linda, and yes, Dame Judi is in the Club too–
And you look pretty regal there yourself, Linda; love that avatar!
Jesscia Lange, Jessica Lange, Jessica Lange!
Oh Morgan you are so right!
She looked great at the Golden Globes– i liked her dress better than Drew Barrymore’s–
I’ve always loved her too; one of my alltime favorite movies is TOOTSIE– That’s young Lange but you are right, she has had some great roles in her more mature years too–
Grey Gardens being one–
I am going to have to update this post with some PSs–
you and Linda and Caitlin all had excellent additions–
XX–
Elizabeth
I’ve always had a girl crush on her… and man, the guys she’s had in her life, including Sam Shepard and that Ballet Dancer whatsisname… I saw her playing death in All That Jazz and said, who is that!! And in Francis, and Country. AND the Patsy Cline story. Wow. Such presence.
YES, she is girl-crush worthy; she was awesome in FRANCES. And yes, what a man-list she has had– LOVE Sam Shepard and the ballet guy; can’t spell his name but see fellow Stonecoaster Ann Rosenquist Fee’s super-HOT piece on him on our StarLit page– it was an early piece so you have to scroll down far; but it’s called O MISHA, I think and it really captures him…
And yes, I adored Jessica L. as Patsy Cline in SWEET DREAMS…
You are really bringing back those memories!
I forgot she was in ALL THAT JAZZ and wasn’t she involved with the star of that too? Or maybe the real Bob Fosse? I can’t keep up with it all! I know she has a beautiful daughter by the ballet guy and I think she is still with Shepard…that Literary Love God…
What about Cloris Leachman? She has a lot of sass for being in her mid-eighties, and she was never shy about looking unattractive for a particular role! She was a hoot on Dancing with the Stars. I read in an InTouch interview that she had Botox once, and thought it looked ridiculous: “You can’t just have part of your face not moving and the rest moving everywhere. That doesn’t work.” I’ve always had a lot of respect for her.
(sorry for not noticing Judi was in the first post! doh!)
Hi Linda: Great Cloris L. quote; love it!
And actually Judi D. was NOT there at first till ‘you put her there’; I added a PS since I was getting so many good suggestions, and I still am!
XX– E
Shame on me. I forgot to include Glenn Close in my list. She rocks!
I agree- not on the ‘shame on you’ part but on the Glenn Close–
yes, for years now she has been playing meaty mature roles;
and what a wonderful distinctive expressive face:
may Botox never freeze those features.
Thanks as always, Caitlin!
Don’t forget Angela Lansbury. She always dresses in a classy, elegant and age appropriate manner.
Yes, Piewacket: Thanks for reminding me not to leave out the Theater– and Angela Lansbury is still such a grande dame there; I believe it was just a year ago she won a Tony for her role in a revival of Blythe Spirit–
And yes, I like the way she dresses too; she is of the ‘old school’ in a good and classic way– another great face, with those eyes still so wide and intense. Will have to add another PS to this post…
I’m so excited by this list of names. So many decision makers in Hollywood think that there aren’t sexy or attractive older actresses out there. How wrong they are!
Maybe the world will wake up and realize that men haven’t cornered the market on silver foxes. The actresses we’ve all mentioned are foxy, too!
They are and I wish we could have some sexy older women onscreen who aren’t ‘Cougars’–!
Check out the recent Meryl Streep Vanity Fair cover piece which points out that in her recent years Streep has been a box office draw, with Devil Wears Prada, Mama Mia and now Julia & Julia all top grossers. That Diane Keaton/Jack Nicholson film did well too…
Yet as you say, the boneheaded Hollywood exec.s still can’t put two and two together and see that there is a large and hungry audience of 40-plus year old females who want something more than another witless teen-level action flick…
It’s almost comical how the execs are “surprised” when movies with older women (meaning older than 35) top the box office.
When one movie with a female lead bombs, these execs threaten to never make ANY movie with a female lead EVER AGAIN. Funny how they never say that about movies with male leads that bomb.
I have a theory: Going to the movies will eventually give way to “On Demand” movies in people’s “home” theatres. Movie theatres will be reserved for special occasions and big PR roll-outs opening weekend.
Anyway, once the stigma of “straight to cable” goes away and it becomes the norm to watch a movie that’s been released “On Demand,” you will see movies with older women doing extremely well. We all want to watch something when the mood hits us. Older audiences don’t always want to flock to the theatre. But they will give something a chance on TV, especially when they pick and choose when they watch it.
I’m telling you, “On Demand” is going to change entertainment for the better. A movie will have time to find an audience. It won’t be yanked immediately because it didn’t perform well opening weekend (the way many movies are yanked in theatres today).
Good to hear this hopeful note; makes sense and I hope you’re right. While there are bad things about movie-theater-going dying out, this might be a plus.
Off this topic but VERY blog appropriate:
Have you heard the news about Nancy Kerrigan’s brother killing their father?
I thought of Elizabeth, too, upon hearing this story. Some things you can’t make up. VERY tragic.
Some people just seem to be almost a magnet for this kind of stuff. Nancy certainly has had her share.
If he is guilty, maybe the “notoriety” attached to the case will bring some attention to elder abuse. It happens a lot but is rarely reported.
Hi Piewacket and Caitlin:
Yes, it’s terrible and strange and yes, poor Nancy’s life does seem to have drawn more than her share of strange violent acts…
The brother was not charged with ‘murder’ today in court but with ‘assault.’ I agree with Piewacket that maybe this will draw attention to elder abuse. Though this may not technically be ‘murder,’ it’s appalling to think of a 70 year old man being attacked in his own home by his son.
Back in the day, Nancy’s family had seemed so wholesome and well-adjusted compared to Tonya’s, but you never can tell. Sounds like this brother was in a downward slide for some time.
Thanks for alerting me as some Facebook friends did earlier; I can never stop following Tonya and Nancy and their saga never seems to end…
What a woman, What timing, What wit, What a dress–slit to the thighs: I’m not talking about Meryl Streep, but the inimitable BETTY WHITE…she made the long show worth the time. For a really natural aging beauty, I vote for Lauren Bacall,,a classy old broad.
Yes, Barb, you Say It All about Betty White, and YES too to Lauren Bacall, a fave of mine and definitely a class act! I will have to add her to our PS list…
A vote for Meryl Streep!
Yes, I second that emotion, Penny2!
It was Meryl and Sharon Stone’s catty remark about her that triggered this Post. I love her look these days– in fact I think she looks better than ever. Glad to hear from a fellow Meryl fan!