Older women in the public eye who you admire

[Cinammoncake]

Who will join me in my older woman appreciation thread?

I'll kick things off with Kirsty Wark. I think she's brilliant.

Kathy Burke. I'm enjoying her recent documentary and her straight talking, give no fucks attitude.

Kristen Scott Thomas. So elegant, and a potty mouth.

Debbie Harry, Elizabeth McGovern, Kathy Burke.

Christine Lagarde.

Tina Turner, Dame Shirley Bassey, Martina Navratilova.

What's "older?" We are all older than someone? I love and admire Emma Thompson.

Sheila Hancock
Anne Reid
Kathy Burke
The Queen

Joan Baez, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, Alison Steadman, Ruth Jones (she is prob my age actually), Sandi Toksvig, Jo Brand and anyone who appears on Just a Minute.

Catherine O'Hara - brilliantly funny actor

What's "older?" We are all older than someone? That's true, but I didn't want to put an arbitrary age on it.

Love all these examples. Christine Lagarde is a particular favourite of mine too. And Judi Dench but I feel like her and Helen Mirren are the defaults. Kathy Burke, fab.

Angela Merkel. Maybe it's a 'goes without saying' situation but i love her watchfulness and her smartness. She's far from perfect but as a politician and a person she gives me hope.

Meryl Streep

And I'd add Patti Smith

Michelle Obama is amazing.

I really admire Angela Merkel. Am loving all these. So many great women.

Alex Polizzi, A great business woman. I love watching her on tv i think she's funny and comes across as firm but kind.

Fiona Bruce
Alison Janney
Cate Blanchett
Judi Dench
Maggie Smith
Moira Stuart
Michelle Obama

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin seconded here! They are brill. Watch Grace and Frankie and you'll fall in love with them!

should be Dame Julie Walters.

Love her

What's not to admire:
(apart from her obvious comedy/ acting prowess),

• mischievous
• cheeky sense of humour
• totally non-'starry' / lacking in arrogance

(impressive at her level, esp in that profession)

• was mates with Victoria wood
• excellent raconteur
• lives on an organic farm
• looks bloody great for 69, in natural, un-cosmetically enhanced, way

Wrote that badly!
Obviously was meant to say as well as her comedic/acting prowess, not apart from...

As you were.

Mary Beard
Christine Lagarde
Kirsty Wark
Helen Mirren
Fiona Bruce

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Annie Lennox
Emma Thompson

Oprah.
Phenomenal life trajectory and achievement, despite trauma in early life.