Talking to anyone about their age, or aging in general, can be quite tricky. As we grow older, we are faced with our own mortality and look back on how we have lived our lives either with a sense of regret or satisfaction or a bit of both.
With so much advancement in medical services and technology, people today live much healthier and longer lives. But when it comes to our favorite celebrities, growing older brings its own set of unique challenges.
In particular, women seem to encounter a limit with their stardom. The biggest and most meaningful roles on-screen are often given to 20-something starlets who may have only been in the business for a little while. In such situations, our favorite veteran actresses are usually pushed to the side and given less important roles to play.
Even though men fare better in this regard and tend to have a longer shelf life in Hollywood’s highest echelons, ageism and discrimination still block their path. But, in spite of all this, many Hollywood superstars are not allowing their age to dictate the way they approach their career or life.
We bring to you a selection of showbiz superstars and their views on aging.
Diane Lane on Life Changing With Age
It has been a few decades since the Man of Steel actress set foot in the industry. She has seen the landscape change, and the roles she takes have evolved with that changing landscape. Be it her stellar debut in A Little Romance in 1979 or her role opposite Richard Gere in 2002’s Unfaithful, Lane has embraced it all as it has come.
She believes that aging has made her human, at least a bit more as time has progressed. The Under the Tuscan Sun actress takes comfort in the fact that aging is a part of life and happens to everyone.
Lane feels that the lines and droops and puffiness do seem to be worrisome, but they also connect her better to the human race. She thinks that like the weather, age is a great equalizer in life.
Ringo Starr Has Learned More With Time
The former Beatles’ star feels that aging has enabled him to find himself and become a better human. From his time as a drummer for The Beatles back in the 60s, the English musician has written songs, appeared on screen in various roles, and done everything else in between.
For Starr, aging has allowed him to learn more about himself. He feels that the older he gets, the more he learns to handle life in the right way.
Oprah Winfrey Has Become a Better Individual
Oprah Winfrey is the embodiment of embracing everything that life throws at you and building something better with it. She has embraced aging the same way. Despite the huge success of her talk show down the years and appearances in a diverse list of movies, Winfrey has never hesitated to reinvent herself.
She now has her own television network and is a spokesperson for Weight Watchers. And it seems like she isn’t about to stop anytime soon. Winfrey believes that each year of your life teaches you something valuable. It is up to you to learn that lesson and make something of it to become a better individual.
Robert De Niro Has Not Been Limited With Age
Robert De Niro is a bona fide Hollywood legend who has seen it all and done it all in his career. His portfolio of roles played is quite diverse, from Goodfellas and The Godfather Part II to The Intern and Dirty Grandpa.
Quite outspoken when it comes to talking about politics and voicing his opinion on any issue, De Niro believes that growing older doesn’t mean one has to change who they are. For Robert, aging is something that you feel but it isn’t a limiting factor in your life in any way.
Sharon Stone Believes On Discovering New Things
Sharon Stone has sizzled the big screen for decades now. We are certainly not going to forget her work in movies like Basic Instinct, The Specialist, and Casino. But she isn’t letting those early roles define her.
Not one to be afraid of experimenting and trying new things, aging is all about discovering new stuff and going with the flow.
For Sharon, growing older is about taking a good look at yourself and not being afraid of the changing times. She feels that most of the time people are so worried that they are losing something as they age that they forget to look at what they are gaining.