While we may be only mildly interested in the films, TV shows and talent honored during the Golden Globes (and the countless other award ceremonies), many of us can't resist the after- buzz. Take the best- and worst-dressed lists, which get hundreds of comments on The Huffington Post alone. Chatter about gowns, jewels and hairstyles is tweeted and talked about around the world even before the last award is handed out, with more of the same online, on air and in magazines in the days that follow. Did Hendricks wear one too many ruffle? Did we like Bullock's bangs? Berry's bustier? Superficial fluff, but it's the kind of gossip we love to hate.
My eye caught something about the 2011 Globes that goes slightly underneath the surface and that I haven't seen discussed, written or blogged about as of yet. Perhaps it's the psychologist in me, or my research on beauty in contemporary culture, but I thought our "aging" celebrities looked pretty darn great -- perhaps better than ever -- as they presented themselves and were represented this year. And it seemed to have less to do with which stylist they used or who dressed them and more with the possibility that Hollywood boomers are finally getting this aging thing right.
One actress who said it all was 52-year-old, poised and gracious Annette Bening, awarded Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for "The Kids Are All Right." Not only did she look great as she received her well-deserved trophy, but she accepted it with the kind of thoughtfulness and generosity that made her appear even more appealing. She effusively praised her co-star, Julianne Moore, a beautiful boomer herself, and then thanked her co-star at home, the 1962 Golden Globe "star-of-the-future," Warren Beatty. Then there was Melissa Leo, showing spunk and spirit at age 50 as she accepted the award for Best Supporting Actress for "The Fighter." She endearingly shared her initial "uh-oh, I'm so old" feelings at being asked to play the mother of 39-year-old actor Mark Wahlberg. But she acknowledged how fortunate she felt having been cast for the award-winning role, appearing as feisty, though far more attractive, than the character she portrayed in the film.
There were a number of other female actors receiving awards for having the courage to portray mid-lifers on screen -- Jane Lynch, age 50, for the deliciously evil Sue Sylvester in "Glee," and Laura Linney, age 46, for her role as a cancer victim in "The Big C." And a couple of more seasoned actors were asked to present awards at the ceremony. Wasn't the proud, mature Tilda Swinton a vision in white? And didn't Jane Fonda and Helen Mirren look stunning? Mirren, the 65-year-old English actress, paused onstage to gaze at her audience and told them how gorgeous they all were, as if handing down the mantel of beauty to the next generation. Meanwhile she was as elegant as ever.
And what about those men? They were showing some graceful aging, too. Colin Firth, for example, expressed gratitude for having the opportunity to play a couple of great roles at his age. Last year he was nominated for playing an anguished, aging professor in "A Single Man," and this year took home the Globe for "The King's Speech." In his self-deprecating style, he quipped that the award may help him avoid a midlife purchase of a Harley Davidson and then acknowledged deep admiration for his co-star, the even older Geoffrey Rush, who looked quite dapper himself in that hat. Add the other talented actors who were honored, like Buscemi, Giamatti, De Niro and Pacino, and I'd say we had a great-looking group of boomers on stage this year.
Surely there is no limit to the time, money and effort these celebrities can put toward looking their best. It's their business to look great. Our media culture demands that of them. They are dressed and made up by top stylists, work out with expert trainers, and get botoxed and lasered by the best dermatologists and surgeons. And no doubt those procedures are getting better and more finely tuned. But this is my point: I can't remember an awards ceremony where I didn't gasp at a former beautiful face destroyed by over indulgence in plastic surgery. Not once this time did I cringe, "Those new lips! Those frozen faces!" These actors and actresses looked, well, refreshingly "real." As I wrote here in an earlier post, "Real Is Really In," perhaps Hollywood is finally getting it right. These actors looked less desperate to appear years younger than their age. Instead they looked great for their age.
Closing with Michael Douglas presenting the Best Motion Picture (Drama) award reinforced this theme for me. Showing obvious appreciation for being healthy enough to be present at all after his battle with throat cancer, Douglas said, "There's got to be an easier way to get a standing ovation." With clear emotion, the audience stood on its feet, seeming to celebrate life, longevity and some of the more meaningful values typically lost in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
Maybe, just maybe, it's not just the kids who are all right. Does anyone else feel optimistic about the changes -- or, at least less radical ones -- seen on the faces of our aging screen idols? I do, even if the upcoming Oscar telecast is moving from last year's seasoned hosts, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, to this year's, James Franco and Anne Hathaway, in order to reach a "younger" demographic. Experience may connote loss of youth, but it need not mean loss of beauty. If nothing else, the 2011 Globes ceremony was a great reminder that beauty and class come in all ages.
I'm interested in hearing what you think about actors reaching their Golden Years at the Golden Globes. Continue the conversation by "fanning" me here, following me on Facebook (at facebook.com/Readfaceit) and on Twitter.
Vivian Diller, Ph.D. is a psychologist in private practice in New York City. She has written articles on beauty, aging, media, models and dancers. She serves as a consultant to companies promoting health, beauty and cosmetic products. "Face It: What Women Really Feel As Their Looks Change" (2010), written with Jill Muir-Sukenick, Ph.D. and edited by Michele Willens, is a psychological guide to help women deal with the emotions brought on by their changing appearances. For more information, please visit www.VivianDiller.com
Follow Vivian Diller, Ph.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DrVDiller
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OFFICIAL WEBSITE of the HFPA and the GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS
2011 Golden Globes: the winners list | News Briefs | EW.com
Golden Globes | NBC Official Site
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All these actors were in awarded roles where they played their own ages, or close to it..I agree that it might be cause for quiet celebration, but also think it's the thin edge of the wedge..just like it's past time for women to not be assumed to be perfectly stick-thin to be appreciated, so the boomers, who will soon outnumber all other age groups, have begun to come into their own.
In any case, I don't really feel it's my place to judge how people go about making their cosmetic choices. People make them based on their own personal needs and everyone's are different. It's that people in the public eye are making choices that are more appealing and more 'real' looking and if that requires fame and fortune, so be it. It sure is better than watching celebrities spend their money in ways that ultimately destroy their faces and careers.
Actually, I see it a little bit differently, but I think you are on to something about a new trend for 55+. To me, I see Hollywood women in their 50s having benefited from the mistakes made by those now in their 60s and 70s. I don't believe it had that much to do with these women being products of the feminist movement. Feminists (including actors who came of age during that time) have often said that this beauty/youth craze created many conflicting feelings for them --to do surgery or not, to care or not to care. I think some of them went the surgical route, but others recognized there is a better way. Joan Rivers and even Jane Fonda have the faces that women who are now in their 50s have learned from. Let's hope that as the 20something generation reach their 40s and 50s, they will have better role models already in place.
By the way, I view plastic surgery that is done in the hopes of appearing more beautiful (the Montag variety) as a different issue than anti-aging procedures. That is a whole other problem --the search for perfection --that I didn't cover in this piece, but will in a future post. Thanks for your interesting thoughts.
In my dream world we admire actors for their talent. In my dreamland, we don't even CARE what they look like if the performance is great. Mirren is fantastic. If she's had anything done, it was done well with subtlety (sp?). I don't mind that Hathaway and Franco are hosting UNLESS they suck. It shouldn't be about their youth and beauty, but how WELL they deliver.
I was very very pretty, looked a good 10 years younger than I was (gene pool). Cancer and its treatment absolutely aged me that 10 years and maybe then some. Overnight I realized how vain I was. The mirror became the enemy, not an admirer. My next stupid dream is to try to turn that rapid aging into something positive. I'm far from successful. But must not compare myself to Halle or Natalie or Annette. I've rambled stream of consciousness b.s. but it is a short bit of therapy for me. Ergo, thank you for this article. I'll fan you, but I don't twitter; my little rebellion :-)
Namaste
I agree, it would be great for talent, not age, to be used as the barometer for which actors and actresses are awarded and admired. This Golden Globes seemed to be more about that than other ceremonies in the past. Stay tuned to the Oscars and let's see if this trend continues.
Men and women are living longer lives than ever before. If these actors and actresses keep looking vital and appealing well into their70s, 80s and 90s (instead of disappearing from the screen, letting themselves go or messing their faces with too much plastic surgery), they just may change the perception aging. That was the point of this piece. Thanks for your comment.
Just one bone to pick: boomers aren't 50-year olds. The baby boom occurred after the soliders came home from WWII, and that makes them at least 60 years old, Ms.Benning's parents were not having a welcome home toss.
I see it as taking good care of yourself as you age while letting aspects of your youth go. It's about redefining what it means to be 40, 50, 60 and beyond, instead of desperately trying to hold onto who you once were. It's being vital, attractive and the best you can be "for" your age, not for someone younger.. When men and women do that, they can gracefully move onto the next stage of their lives. Does that definition work? What's yours?
I wonder how much this new look has to do with HDTV, as we can now see, especially in sunlight, more detail in faces.
I recently read of an actress who gave up the Botox injections because she realized her job is to make facial expressions.
Not surprised that the Oscars chose young stars over comedians to host the show. They should have chosen someone like Jane Lynch because she is so naturally funny and isn't it suppose to be entertaining?
Gay TV or movies will not be accepted. (Well Will and Grace, Modern Family, and Brokeback Mountain would seem to disprove that, but it is still set in stone)
Older actors and actresses won't bring in an audience... (Really? Because Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, all the Law and Orders, CSI etc... would seem to disprove that)
Minorities won't bring in ratings...(Do we even need to look any further than the Cosby show, Will Smith, Dreamgirls)? And yet that is still set in stone.
What we need is for somebody to fire all the Hollywood exects, or send them off to whatever island delusional cocaine addicts go to, and hire some people with actual real world experience. Maybe you'd stop seeing such a drop in ticketsale numbers.