Age naturally like Gywneth Paltrow
Recently, audiences in the UAE got to see the new-look Renee Zellweger in the newly-released Bridget Jones’s Baby (our take: the ‘older’ Renee looked way better — and we know there’s been endless speculation on whether or not Renee got plastic surgery done, because she herself has been denying it furiously!). Then, yesterday, almost all celebrity trackers were talking about how Meg Ryan looked hugely different at a New York event she attended: “plump cheeks and a line-free face”. Year on year, stars (and non-stars), especially those with (what they believe is) advancing age, have been resorting to plastic surgery — or some other form of euphemistically-worded ‘treatment’ because they want to appear younger. (Even in the UAE, anti-ageing treatments have been gaining tremendous ground, and has been one of the fastest-growing segments in the beauty/healthcare sector.) So it was a pleasant surprise when Oscar-winning Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow declared on her birthday (on 27 September): “#nomakeup for my 44th birthday, embracing my past and future…”
This was posted on Instagram alongside a photo of hers with absolutely no makeup on — and tousled hair. This Insta-snap has gone viral, and all fashion/celebrity magazines and bloggers are talking about Gwyneth’s ‘brave act’, while adding how utterly “fabulous” she looks au naturale. Older screens legends like Diane Keaton and Susan Sarandon have been, for a long time, talking about saying a firm “no” to any kind of ‘work’ getting done on themselves; now, as the next generation of actresses get on in years, there have to be a new voices from among them — like Gwyneth — to talk about the “ageing naturally”. Somehow, causes work much better when people walk the talk instead of just voraciously advocating a stance. You cannot argue beauty is only skin-deep unless you are willing to prove your point. Gwyneth just did that. Kudos to her. And getting back to the beginning of this copy, Gwyneth’s photo seemed to be the perfect antidote for those who have been going blue in the face trying to deny they’ve had “work done” — when it’s been as clear as day that they have.