Rachel Ward has responded to online critics who targeted her for aging naturally. The 68-year-old actress, known for “The Thorn Birds,” shared a video on Instagram humorously apologizing for her “rather unkempt appearance” that recently “scared” people. She urged followers not to fear aging, calling her 60s a fulfilling chapter: “I am more fulfilled than ever, and I have no regrets leaving my youth and beauty behind.”
Ward emphasized the unrecognized joys of later life, stating, “Later years are to be exalted and welcomed… They have so many other gifts to bestow.” While thanking supporters who defended her, she advised against drastic measures to cling to youth: “Let it go and much bounty will come.”
The actress rose to fame in the 1983 miniseries “The Thorn Birds,” where she met her husband, Bryan Brown, 78. Married since 1983, they share three children and now operate a beef farm in rural New South Wales. In her post, Ward joked about her farm’s offerings—”steaks, chooks, eggs, pork, and lamb”—while playfully apologizing for appearing without styled hair or lipstick. She concluded by celebrating her contentment: “I’m not youthful, but I am a very happy camper.”