Rachel Ward, the British-Australian actress best known for her role in the 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds, has responded to online trolls who criticised her appearance. The 68-year-old, who now runs a regenerative beef cattle farm in New South Wales with her husband Bryan Brown, addressed the comments in an interview with Australian Story.
Last December, Ward posted an Instagram video thanking followers for their support, which drew hurtful remarks about her grey hair and ageing. “A few trolls were a bit shocked about my grey hair, who maybe hadn’t seen me since I was 24, and then went, ‘Oh my God, that’s what you end up looking like’,” she said.
Ward dismissed the criticism, saying she is “so past caring about what people think about one’s appearance or age”. She criticised societal pressure on women to maintain a youthful look, adding: “That whole harping … that we still have to be sexual beings is terrifying. To have to have our bums lifted and our breasts lifted and our faces drawn back. It just becomes grotesque.”
In a previous Instagram post in January, Ward urged others not to fear ageing, describing it as “a wonderful period of life”. She said she is “more fulfilled than ever” and has “no regrets leaving my youth and beauty behind”. She joked in the caption: “I’m a farmer now but really should do my hair and apply some lippy before I go on social media. Apologies for frightening a few of you.”
Ward’s acting career included roles in films such as Against All Odds (1984) and Fortress (1985). She later turned to directing, with her 2009 film Beautiful Kate earning AACTA Award nominations. Her farming life was documented in the 2023 film Rachel’s Farm, which she directed and co-wrote.
