All The Pretty Ladies

Do you ever get weirded out when you see elderly actresses now who when you check online, you see a younger photo of the person and just…marvel at how stunning they were in their hey day?

I think British actresses have that a lot. Or at least most non-Americans. Vanessa Redgrave looks like what Judy Greer looks like now (I love redheads, fuck off).

Julie Christie, Jaqueline Bisset, Dame Judi Dench, basically any of the older women on “Game Of Thrones” like Diana Rigg...

Diana Rigg

American geriatric women seem to just…disappear. Julia Roberts, though hardly granny age, has gone poof, Meg Ryan. It doesn’t seem we value the American older actress more than British. I think, because at that age, having an accent is pretty charming and can fit in with their medieval history. We can only figure out into the Civil War. Which, by the way, we’re due for another cool Civil War movie. I’m a sucker for blondes from the 60’s with raspy voices Sandra Dee, Babara Harris, Joey Heatherton come to mind (just a side remark, nothing to do with the rest of the blog).  

 

Jaqueline Bisset

 

Judi Dench

It’s hard for me to conjure up an older actress in my mind that is American and still working, where with some research see in their day they were hot. Anne Ramsey, Mama Fratelli from “The Goonies” was actually a VERY attractive woman in her youth.

Anne Ramsey

Raquel Welch, which is still in great shape, is at that age where people can look back at her 60’s work and get some spank bank material. Ann Margaret, Angie Dickenson, Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, Barbara Hershey (as a kid I never thought she was that hot, as an adult, she has…something). If you live long enough as an actress, it more than likely meant you toiled in your youth, and that meant you were doing young women parts. I saw Carrie Fisher on some talk show, after seeing herself in a Princess Leia costume, laugh and say “what happened? This is before and after.” I think it’s hard for an actress to see themselves young and pretty, and be reminded that those days are gone. For some pretty boys back in the day, say…Alec Baldwin, he seems more distinguished. He’s let himself go since the “Hunt For Red October” days. I’m sure he’s reminded of the leading man quality he had in his youth.

Being a successful actress in movies, it’s got to be a constant kick to the ego. A lifetime achievement award recap of their filmography must be like going to the dentist. Like watching an evolution chart in reverse. That is the curse and the gift of making it in this business, when you look back at your career, all you get is what was.