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.

Graça Machel
JK Rowling

Julie Bindel
The Queen
Martina Navratilova
Mary Beard

Oprah Winfrey

I’ll add Gaby Logan if she counts as older
Tracy Emin
Kathy Burke
Viv Westwood
Alison Steadman

Baroness Hale and Kathrine Switzer

Ming-Na Wen. Plays a kick ass warrior in Agents of Shield, better than all the men, does her own stunts and she’s a woman in her 50s. Not often you see that.

Another vote for Lily Tomlin

@AutumnalLeaves38 Julie Walters IS a Dame. No should be about it.

Hilary Mantel

Mary Berry. She exemplifies loving your family through nourishing them.

Alex Polizzi, Cate Blanchett and JK Rowling are 48, 50 and 54 respectively - I wouldn’t class that as an “older” woman, nor would they think of themselves like that either IMO.

Ditto Michelle Obama at 55.

Or Gaby Logan at 46!!

Katie Hopkins.
Melanie Phillips.
Celia Hammond.
Brigitte Bardot.
Jeanine Pirro.
Michelle Malkin.
Dolly Parton.
Patricia Heaton.

Some of these women aren’t old for Jesus sake

CryHavoc
Julie Walters IS a Dame. No should be about it.

Oh Lord, she is, isn't she...that's really embarrassing I'd forgotten that!!

Thanks for reminding me.
She thoroughly deserves to be

YY to Mary Beard!!

Emma Thompson

I don't think the OP meant 'old' when she said older women. I interpreted it as meaning 'mature'.

Katie Hopkins - you’re kidding, right?

And Melanie Phillips?!
She and Hopkins are both mean-spirited bigots.

Katie Hopkins?

Am really hoping that's a typo. Can't decide whether I admire her bigotry or her snobbery more. Oh wait - the fact that Trump admires her and he is my moral path to follow

I hate to break it to those complaining some of these women aren't older, but past 45, you aren't younger. Statistically speaking. I'll happily take role models of 45+ as that's my age bracket.

Once got a letter from the GP surgery saying 'now you're in the age 40-70' age bracket...'. I was a bit shocked. (It was to offer me some health checks.)

Recently no longer with us, but Ursula le Guin
Margaret Atwood
Hilary Mantel
Caroline Lucas - not necessarily for her politics or for the 'women will sort this out' suggestion, but for her sense that we'll get nowhere slagging each other off and working against each other
Mary Beard

And yes to lots already mentioned. Wish Oprah would run for US President, she's no less qualified than Trump and I don't see anyone less popular defeating him.

Sarah Lancashire.

Christine Lagarde