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?

Okay so I’ll quit sniping and counter bid. Actresses over fifty that seem impressive in one way or another;

Julianne Moore.
Gillian Anderson.
Whoopi Goldberg.
Helena Bonham Carter.

Shame Hillary and Chelsea don't seem to know what a woman is @MrsMaiselsMuff

All a woman has to do is look good for her age to be considered an inspiration?

Sad. But what is sadder is that this is coming from mature women.

YABU.

Please explain how you find having oodles of wonga to spend on yourself is inspirational?

2019 and what we find 'inspirational' is an expensively worked face. and all the eyerolls

I do however think turning 50 can be difficult for many / most women, whether they admit it or not. Sadly more difficult for women than men because of the unfortunate notion that women are “past it” by a certain age. So when you see women such as CZJ looking as she does, it kind of defies that notion. That’s all.

But you're shoring up that attitude that women are only important when/if they're young and sexy by finding someone who looks conventionally attractive and sexy at 50 'inspirational'.

I think HM isn’t classically beautiful but she is striking, I love her as an actress too. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder though as they say.

I'm 51 and I'm beautiful to those who love me. That's what matters to me.

I'm not inspired to focus on my looks and I don't think it's healthy to do so. It's sad for our society in my opinion that so much value is ascribed to how women look.

I was watching Joanna Lumley the other night and thinking she looks beautiful for her age.

Helen Mirren has had a face lift, and would look more beautiful if she had left her face alone I feel.

Joanna Lumley is more of an inspiration than the two in the OP.

She has lines and wrinkles, her teeth could do with some maintenance (I like the imperfections, they don't matter, she is very attractive) but she has massive joie de vivre, is totally engaged with everything, funny, kind and talented.

Helen Mirren leaves me cold.

Great minds @bobstersmum

Helen Mirren has definitely had work done.

I have no problem with botox etc but AH looks like a freak. God knows why she's done it to herself.

Helen Mirren is hugely overrated. Her face barely moves.

Yabu.
Her face and body have been pulled and tweaked for years. Nothing inspirational about taking the easy route.

these two defy the myth that women should just let it all go as they get older?

Never heard of this myth?

On the other hand, Mary Beard irritates the fuck out of me. Surely there's a middle way?

How depressing. I'd like to be judged by so much more than my looks, now I'm in my fifties. In fact I've found it quite liberating not to have to bother so much. I still make an effort to look presentable but that's pride not vanity.

And no I don't want to be inspired by people like CZJ and AH to have to use fillers, have plastic surgery or use Botox. It's like the bar that celebrities have set that they're back in their size eights two weeks after giving birth. It's not realistic for most people - no nannies, PTs etc - and also unlikely to be good for our physical and mental health.

So many women to be inspired by for far greater achievements.

Shes had a shit ton of work done which I doubt she'll admit to.She looks great for 50 though.

Audrey Hepburn.

She was a beautiful woman, and a true inspiration.

Helen Mirren, Judi Dench, Diana Rigg, Joanna Lumley - also very beautiful women, and without the need for intervention, so far as I am aware.

CZJ - nah. She's lovely - always was, but as others have said, relies totally on what money can buy her to keep her looks (which is fair enough) and seems to be outstandingly self-interested (not so much).

I think she looks very, very good, but I wouldn't take her as an inspiration for anything other than the plastic surgeon's art.

I like Amanda Holden. I think she looks good, seems like a good laugh and I enjoy seeing what she's wearing. Sometimes I think she's a bit OTT but that's part of her job, she gives people something to look at and talk about (if they choose to).

Nobody gets a prize when they die for being demure and not offending anyone with your choice of outfits or treatments or how you have chosen to present yourself, so you might as well please yourself as please everyone else, as that's impossible anyway.

Mary Beard is ghastly - and I'm not talking about her looks!

She just grates on me - I can't watch or listen to anything with her in it, no matter how well-researched at it is. (Same with Tony Robinson)

OrchidInTheSun
Shame Hillary and Chelsea don't seem to know what a woman is

Oh FFS it's an epidemic 😡

I'm 51 and I'm beautiful to those who love me. That's what matters to me.

Yeah, I thought that too until it turned out my DH found younger women more attractive than old boilers like me 🤣

I find mature women who contribute to science, arts, education and humanities inspiring...I don't find mature women who see a plastic surgeon to stay relevant in a biased entertainment industry inspiring. Holden and Zeta Jones do not look younger as such, just wax-like with all the injections.

I don't find mature women in the public eye inspiring when they perpetuate a view that you have to take drastic measures with botox and face lifts to remain 'pretty' and therefore important/ relevant/ interesting etc...it makes menopausal women who are going through hormonal changes depressed having to aspire to these new unrealistic trends. Inspiring is a woman who accepts that age is a natural process, and that there is more to a person than their looks alone. To age gracefully and with good health, don't smoke, drink lots of alcohol, eat badly...it shouldn't be about getting cosmetic procedures that are too expensive, risky and pointless.

I don’t think it’s a “depressing” view at all. Nor does it need to negate anything else. Of course there are all sorts of ways to feel inspired by other women but, as I said, that’s not what I’m talking about on this occasion.

It is often said that’s women can feel a bit invisible as they get older - said this is somehow inevitable. Obviously, as you age, your attitude changes too, so you’re not seeking approval on your looks, in the same way as you might have done in your 20s (if you ever did). However, if women aren’t happy with something as they age, it is quite common to just dismiss it with “oh well, that’s just age for you.” As you have less energy, there’s sometimes a tendency to just kind of give up. If you are generally the sort of person who doesn’t give a hoot about their appearance and never did, then that’s one thing and good for you in a way. But I think, for most of us and whether we like to admit it or not, our psychological health is improved if we feel good about our physical appearance. So when you see women like CZJ looking energised and fabulous, I think it’s ok to be a bit uplifted by that. Why not?

SchadenfreudePersonified hurrah, not just me. I literally can't wstch or listen to her.