To think Catherine Zeta-Jones is an inspiration!

[Parisa5]

I was in the hairdressers yesterday and so provided with the obligatory copy of “Hello” magazine. Anyway, in it was CZJ and I just thought she looks fantastic. I’m 45 now, so the 50s are looming and I love seeing a woman like that who is 50, but more stunning than ever. I also think the same about Amanda Holden who I’ve met a few times and she’s another one who has improved with age. I know AH is not popular on MN, but why not? AIBU to think these two defy the myth that women should just let it all go as they get older?

I wonder if menopause/HRT has something to do with it too? I looked...well, I was never beautiful, or even pretty, but my skin was still smooth and silky and I looked okayish until I got to around 52/3. Then the menopause hit and everything just seemed to droop, wrinkle and drop overnight. I won't be taking HRT though as I've no other symptoms to speak of, and will just settle for being the best version of me that I can.

Are you CZJ OP?

What has she done? Why should a woman be judged to be inspirational or anything based on looks and clothes? Especially when money is no object .
With that money anyone could look good , but that does not make them inspirational.

AH is only 48. I see her locally sometimes, and away from the media, cameras, lashings of makeup, she looks like the rest of us (not meant nastily, it’s just that underneath the celebrity veneer 48 is still 48)

I do wish people would rtft before coming on and just asking the same question ad infinitum.

Yes of course we are all inspired all the time by women who achieve amazing things - in philanthropy, law, politics, medicine, science, art -you name it. We all know real people who inspire us too - our mum; a particular teacher, voluntary worker - whoever. But this doesn’t stop us walking out of the house in any given day and just being inspired by, I don’t know, the weather, or a piece of architecture, a song, something your kids say - or anything else in a given moment! It’s fine to say you couldn’t give hoot about CZJ - why would you ?- but surely people can take the point in context, without this need to virtue-signal or bring the likes of Germaine Greer into it!

You're clearly extremely worried about ageing, OP, and that's fine - I guess. Though you shouldn't assume it applies to all of us.

But, for me, seeing CZJ looking better at 50 (in my opinion) than when she was younger, just made me feel more positive.

Well, we'll have to disagree on her looking better than ever at 50, but putting that aside, can I ask you this: Is CZJ the first woman you have seen who is over 50 and looking good? Because I see them every single day in real life. And if we're talking celebrity women, there are so many out there who look great and don't appear to have had anything like the amount of 'work' she has had. I'm talking Naomi Watts, Julliane Moore, Jeniffer Aniston, Susan Sarandon, Sharon Stone and so many.

You seem to act as though it's some sort of freak to see a woman over 50 looking great. Well, it's not.

@JuneFromBethesda Thanks for mentioning the Terminator trailer. Brilliant to see an older lady as a major character in an action film. (She's 63 according to wiki) After some much weaker movies in the franchise, hopefully she can bring it back to its former glory.

No of course she’s not the only woman over 50 that I think looks great . In all seriousness, I have friends who are just a stunning as CZJ to be perfectly honest. Have they had work done? I don’t care and it’s none of my business. Nobody has ever asked me if I have Botox, My mum is 75 and still has great skin. She always coloured her hair though - does that mean she’s fake? I don’t know.

You seem very invested in this OP - are you not used to people disagreeing with you? People are just making the point that of course they look well preserved for their age but who wouldn't with their privilege and wealth? I think the word "inspiration" is the problem here.

No of course she’s not the only woman over 50 that I think looks great

So why is she in particular so 'inspirational'? If, as you say, you know lots of women over 50 who look great, what is so amazing about an extremely rich woman who was born beautiful still looking good at 50? It would be more amazing if she didn't.

Do you think she'd still look so 'inspirtional' on the bus at 8 am on a November morning, having had to rush to get the kids to school and find a few minutes to slap on her make up and blast her hair with a hair dryer?

I mean I always enjoy hearing Anna Soubry in Parliament because she has such energy and charisma. When I found out she is 62, I found that inspiring too.

I don’t really care what CZJ would look like in the bus. It doesn’t interest me.

I don’t really care what CZJ would look like in the bus. It doesn’t interest me.

But you're 'inspired' by how she looks after probably hours in hair and make up, wearing a designer dress and posing for photos which will then likely be touched-up to make her look her best?

"10zzzzzzzz12345

YABU. I find cosmetic intervention the opposite of inspiring. Why can Michael look his age but she can’t? It’s very sad.

**Helen Mirren - now there is one beautiful, natural, inspiring woman"
You do know Helen Mirren has had loads of work done including a facelift?

No I don’t think she’s inspirational. I don’t think Amanda Holden is either.

They’ve spent a lot of time and money making themselves look a certain way. A way which doesn’t look particularly good in my opinion.

I know she’s been touched- up or whatever, but you could say that about anyone. She is not the only woman so find beautiful, no. Where did I say that? I just happened to be commenting on her yesterday.

Other people have mentioned Jennifer Aniston and yes, I think she looks great. Helena Bonham Carter is another one you see in those magazines sometimes. I’ve met her in real life and she does have beautiful skin, “work” or no work.

That isn't the face she used to have though is it? Same with AH.. I like them both but it's not natural ageing is it?

Yes really inspiring...inspiring women on modest salaries to get into huge debt spending money on the same cosmetic procedures that they've had!

I’ve been thinking about the psychology of this - havingcime under a lot if MN criticism! Why is it somehow acceptable for women to say Jennifer Aniston looks great, or Helen Mirren, whereas other random celebs just seem to incite wrath?

I think maybe we gravitate towards certain celebs because it’s a kind of “identification crush”. In the same way as my daughter loves Ariana Grande - it’s the same phenomena happening. Maybe someone like Jennifer Aniston has the kind of look that a wider range of people can aspire to. I remember people used to try and copy her hair years ago, didn’t they? And there was all that “our Jen” malarkey that went on and on and had the effect of selling millions of crap magazines for what seemed like forever, even though she split from Brad Pitt about 100 years ago and who cares about him anyway? I think maybe there was something somehow “ relatable” about JA? It’s hard to put your finger on? Women saw her as a more polished / glam version of themselves maybe?

That could be why CZJ made me feel more positive somehow. I Can relate to her “look” in that I have similar hair and complexion etc, so I find it aspirational. It’s the same for me with Angelina Jolie, maybe for the same reason. Whereas someone like Nicole Kidman has a look I could never aspire to, so I wouldn’t really have the momentary interest if I’m flicking through a magazine, if that makes any sense at all?

People go on about Helen Mirren, whether she’s had work done or not. I can only think this is because there is something about her “look” that people can somehow identify with, even if only in the smallest of ways?

Maybe you mean aspirational rather than inspirational. Like you aspire to look like her.

What does she inspire you to do? Get hair extensions and some Botox?

I actually think CZJ looks older than her years due to her style. She's had the same "Hollywood Glamour" look for decades - the set hair, red lipstick, classic gowns. Her look has never changed or evolved. Same as AH - polyester lace gown slashed at the thigh - perma tanned leg peeping through, PVC trousers and see through shirt. She looks like an ageing Page 3 girl on her way to the TV Choice Awards. If you compare them to say, Sarah Jessica Parker or Kylie. I know Kylie has had botox, but she is always updating her style, staying relevant but wearing styles that suit her. Same as SJP - they both look chic and relaxed and give off an air of not caring about their looks and age - even if they do.

But why do you think an already beautiful woman, with access to all the surgery - and, indeed anything - she wants, is 'inspiring'.

What is 'inspiring' about that?

She looks like an ageing Page 3 girl on her way to the TV Choice Awards

!

You're right. Her style is frozen in time, like her face. Almost like she was determined to stay in the era when she was in her prime.

And it can't help being married to a man a quarter of a century her senior. Looks aside, I don't find her lifestyle 'inspirational' at all. She could have had her pick of all sorts of young hotties, and that's who she's lumbered with?

I guess it worked out in terms of career and fame, but sounds like a faustian bargain to me, and it shows in her face.

Noeuf - yes, maybe “aspirational” wouid have been a better choice of word. Thankyou.

And no, it does not follow that I don’t aspire to a million and one other things (before anyone comes on with “Is that all you can aspire to! Ra Ra Ra Ra....)

when do women have to be attractive to be judged as inspirational. This is wrong