To be slightly aghast that Shirley Valentine was only 42?

[Pjsandbaileys]

I do realise it's late 80s fiction but I'm not far off that age and don't feel middle-aged at all (except maybe in the mornings lol)most of my friends still have primary school aged children, I'm just slightly horrified when I watched it I assumed she was mid 50s lol

Women did look older back then, when I look at photos of my Mum and Aunties in their late 40s they looked so much older than that, I think it was the permed hair and elasticated pleated skirts they wore.

Yes The Golden Girls,i always thought they where in their 60s.

And Bea Arthur was actually older than Estelle Getty.

Frankly I was more aghast that she referred to 'Chips and egg'. Everybody knows it should be 'Egg and chips'!

Snicketty we’re shocked by ‘chips and egg’ every single time.

I have to say you’re only talking about the late 1980’s. ‘Back then’ makes it sound like a century ago. There’s a fair amount of ageism on this thread.

And no, women in their forties did not look particularly older (or younger) then than they do today.

I'll never forget Pauline Collins appearing on the Gay Byrne shown in the republic of Ireland and some psycho caller calling in, saying "English Bitch!" and Gay Byrne responding "her mother's Irish"

I was pretty young but even so just thought "wtaf?! The response to that was "get off my call in line, you psycho idiot".

It’s how she’s dressed and her hair style , I didn’t realise she was that age but I’d have assumed late forties, her real

I also watched it earlier, it’s a great movie and she’s really pretty.

And no, women in their forties did not look particularly older (or younger) then than they do today.

80s fashions and hair styles were (other than punk) were really aging.

Omg i imagined she was about 60!

All those smocky dresses with sailor collars and perms, they made people look so matronly.

We were talking about Shirley Valentine the other day. I thought she was in her 50s!

I love this film. I thought she was about 50 but looks younger as the film goes on. I think the point is she's old before her time because her life is just about her home and husband (as her children are now grown up). I don't think all women in the 80s dressed that way or felt that way. I don't remember my mum dressing that way.
But I do feel old now she's only 2 years older than I am now. Having said that i always feel old at my daughter's parents evening (secondary school) as all her teachers look so young!

Sod off OP. You've properly ruined my weekend.

From a 40 year old.

I found out I was older than homer Simpson and basil fawlty the other day.Mind Blown.

Where is everyone watching it?!

Wow I would never have guessed the Golden Girls were only 50 something.

Remember how Diana Spencer dressed? I had an outfit from Laura Ashley that I wore out in the evenings . Lots of smocking stuff around then.

Where is everyone watching it?!

Channel 5 have been showing it this weekend.

Fucks sake - I'm 52 and in my mind SV has got a decade on me 😂

I can’t find it on 5 catch up.

@rayoflightboy

Yes The Golden Girls,i always thought they where in their 60s.

And Bea Arthur was actually older than Estelle Getty.

Wow! Really? Imagine having somebody older play yr daughter! That'd feel strange!

Thanks to this thread I have now watched it on YouTube. Pauline Collins was very beautiful. She had amazing skin and gorgeous twinkly eyes. I do think the style at the time was aging. Big hair, dresses that were far too fussy and often shapeless. I think the film is probably still relatable to a lot of women nowadays. Instead of being mostly housewives with grown up children many of us still have young children and are on the hamster wheel that is modern life trying to survive work kids house etc. I have often said to my husband I would love nothing better than to head off on a holiday by myself. To do exactly as I please and suit only myself.

I also used to watch the Golden Girls years ago and thought they were in their 60s.

Watching them again now I'm in my early 70s and I still think they look as if they're in their 60s.

I think they looked older because of the 'old lady' type clothes they wore were incredibly unflattering, and those awful perms.

I don't remember anyone under 60 wearing anything like that at that time.

In the 80s I had wavy hair down to my shoulders and have never had my hair permed in my life.

And no, women in their forties did not look particularly older (or younger) then than they do today

No way, I completely disagree with this. In the 1980s women in their 40s looked waaaay older than they do now. The styling alone made people look a decade older (eg shaggy perms, pleated skirts, blouses etc).Look at women like anne diamond and carol vorderman- they look younger now than they did 20 years ago!

Riiight. Ok.