Three of the amazing women nominated for best actress in the 2010 Academy Awards are no longer -- what my brother refers to as -- on the "sunny side" of 45. In fact, two of them are in their 60s. But the thing is, they are still vital, attractive, vibrant -- and yes, even sexy. I once read that Hollywood caters mostly to the age group 18 to 24, but the nominations for both best actress and best actor are well past this age group. Jeff Bridges is 60, Colin Firth is 49, George Clooney is 48 and Morgan Freeman is (*gasp*) 72. Could it be there is life after 40? 50? 60? 70?How many of you limit yourselves and the things you do in your lives? How many of you put a label on yourselves as "too old"? I know folks in their 30s and early 40s who have started saying, "I'm old..." Omigoodness...! Why would folks want to age themselves when they are only half way through their lives? Have we allowed our society to value youth too much? George Bernard Shaw once famously said, "Youth is wasted on the young." I'm not so sure I agree. That's like saying, "Life is wasted on the living." As long as you have breath in you, you have the capacity to be all that you can be. You are the one who draws the boundaries around you -- no one else. Is youth wasted on the young? Tell that to Helen Mirren, Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep ten years from now, when they are still being nominated for Academy Awards.
Here's to the ladies...!
Cheers,
35 comments:
At age 64 and 66, J and I feel we are just hitting our stride. We continue to enjoy life and hope to for many more years. Old? What's that?
...that Hollywood caters mostly to the age group 18 to 24
Which I really do dislike. Honestly, most of them are too young too even know what real acting is.
Striking a pose & walking around half naked, which most of those young Stars are doing, that's something every one can do!
I think it's marvelous ...
I love those three "older" ladies! Helen and Meryl tie for first among acting women, in my book. They are soooo talented. And sexy. Just like us! hahaha
When I was 33 I had teenagers and I thought there was pretty much nothing more in life other than watching them get married have babies, etc. Then I had a new career, new husband, more kids, and it still is true. You are only as old as you feel and NEVER say that nothing new will ever happen to you again. You are probably wrong!! Way to go Helen and Meryl!!
You are so right, Jo, about "you are the ones who draws the boundaries around yourself--no one else"! It never ceases to amaze me to hear people in their fifties talk about themselves as being "old"! I am having more fun in my fifties than ever before! I also admire these three women. Great post!
Yes! I wanna enjoy the youth that still is mine!
Aloha, Friend
Comfort Spiral
You are right about that. I started skydiving at 47, when people all around me told me I was too old. Well, twenty years later, 4,100 skydives later, I'm still going strong at 67! I have cut back some, though: more intellectual pursuits are calling me...
Its hard to say...at 35 I feel to "aged" do somethings which is why I do them in private such as jumping on a bed, crawling up stairs or trying to stand on my head...
I think Hollywood caters mostly to the 18 to 24 group because they are still following the crowd, and don't know how to think for themselves. I'm not 60, but looking at my friends who are, I would guess they get way more out of life because they aren't as concered about staying in step with everyone else.
I agree! By the way....I have meant to tell you before that you remind me of Helen Mirran. She is one of my favorite actresses.
Agree absolutely Jo. If you are lucky enough to be sound in wind, limb and mind then your age means nothing.
WONDERFUL, Jo. And just now, I am starting fresh at fifty-seven... hoping to get to the real deal of a beginning after I turn 58 even. Last year I did think I was too old to start fresh, that it sounded silly.
And the thing is, over fifty represents the BIGGEST population group. Those are three beautiful women. And so are you.
There are people in their thirties and forties who think they're old? Thirty is the new twenty! Heck, I'm in my thirties and I still think of myself as a girl. It must be working in PreK!
You are sure, sometimes I think to myself "Oh, Iam surpassed..." (But Iam 34!)I don't know, I suppose I have to change my paradigms...thanks for the text!
49 and feelin' fine!
Kathryn : )
At 77 I am still enjoying life. I have wonderful memories and adding more every year.
As I'm a new starter as his age is just 60 yrs old...I'm Wine groups a leader ... Well Intergrade New Elder...Would like to put myself on the limit too old is near to 80 or more...
Oooh I'm so pleased with this post ... I'll be turning 37 in about a month. I'm happy to know there IS IN FACT life after 40. Hehehe!!! Not that I didn't think there was before ... this just affirms it!!!
Speaking of 'firming' ... gotta get to the gym, gotta get to the gym!!!
Blessings!
I make it a point to never talk to people under 50 unless I absolutely have to!
Hi Jo,
If you ask me, it's not about physical aging. If your biological age is 45 but you still feel yourself like you're in your 20s, that makes the difference.
There was a famous Turkish composer named Aysel Gurel -78 years old- who died last year. You should have seen how she was full of beans!Sometimes i was ashamed of myself when i saw her. She was in the age in which she was feeling herself.
That's it Jo. 'I am getting old' is a cliche of people who wants to hear ' Ohh of course you're not getting old, look at you how young you're looking'.
Thanks for sharing this post!
Greetings
I'll forever be grateful to my mother, who modeled embracing her age.
I'm happy for these ladies too, and Judi Dench, who keeps playing that sexy M in Bond movies, among other fabulous roles.
I think what Shaw meant (if I may be so bold) is that youth, without the benefit of experience and learning that age affords, is wasted because we don't know what to do with it. My youth was a bit wasted, and now with age I see what I did wrong and how I could have maximized my experiences and still had a lot of fun.
I am very happy about all the older people being given roles in current movies. They are infinitely more interesting than the youngsters. Meryl and Steve Martin in "It's Complicated" were terrific.
I constantly tell people I'm old but I never believe myself.
ha ha ha Charles - that's perfect. "I constantly tell people I am old but I never believe myself."
Except for wishing I'd appreciated my absolutely incredible skin which I was wearing back in the 70s and 80s, I think I far prefer now, when I'm coasting toward my mid-fifties.
I'm braver, less worried about other people's opinions, and far more interested in making the most of my time.
I don't manage it all the time, but I focus on trying a whole lot more.
Those ladies are all wonderful! I turn 28 this year (yes, still young) but I look forward to every year I get older because it means I get to learn more and do more. Really, why would we want to be younger? You don't get to drink until 21 and you can't even rent a car until 25. It seems to me that all the best things start happening after 25 (even though I got married at 20...that was pretty good ;) ) Anyway, I think there is a lot to look forward to. I am now settled in a secure, job which I love, I no longe have to go to school unless I want to,and I can start planning all of my exciting travels. Sounds good to me!
I started calling myself old not because of my age but because I put my shoes on the wrong feet.
I can think of hundreds, maybe thousands of movies starring older actors. They may not be big Hollywood blockbusters but they're out there.
Thank you, all my wonderful blogging friends, for your fabulous comments. My goodness, what a great bunch you are. I love you all.
I do apologize for not responding to each of you individually. My time got away on me -- again. They actually make me work when I go to work. Can you even imagine????
Cheers!
Jo
It is a refreshing to see mature actresses and actors being recognized - it is a trend that has slowly evolved over the last 20 years - it was not always that way. I think the "Boomer" generation has led the charge on this one and it's all for the better! Cheers to those wonderful nominees!
We know better, we laugh faster, we see stonger, we feel deeper. Older is just plain better! =0P
Nice post, which made me smile. You are right that most of life's limitations are the ones we put on ourselves, and age should not ever be one of them. Cheers to the ladies and gentlemen who continue to live exciting lives without regard to artificial boundaries.
I think that a lot of times when young people (30's & 40's) say they're too old, they just want you to tell them, 'oh, you are not!'
Oh! It's started snowing. (The media is touting this as 'the big one').
GUILITY AS CHARGED! Just today I told a co-worker that I always wanted to go to law school and she asked me why I don't go now and I told her, "I'm too old to go now".
Maybe I need to rethink that?
Alicia, if you go to law school you'll be 4 years older when you graduate. How much older will you be in 4 years if you don't go?
walking around half naked, which most of those young Stars are doing, that's something every one can do!
Work from home India
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