{"id":217114,"date":"2026-01-16T22:31:33","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T22:31:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/16\/thorn-birds-rachel-ward-shuts-down-trolls-criticizing-her-appearance\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T22:31:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T22:31:33","slug":"thorn-birds-rachel-ward-shuts-down-trolls-criticizing-her-appearance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/16\/thorn-birds-rachel-ward-shuts-down-trolls-criticizing-her-appearance\/","title":{"rendered":"Thorn Birds&#8217; Rachel Ward Shuts Down Trolls Criticizing Her Appearance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/the-circles-rachel-ward-says-many-alums-stopped-speaking-to-her\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Rachel Ward<\/strong><\/a> shared a message for trolls who criticized her appearance at age 68, telling naysayers that growing older is powerful \u2014 and she\u2019s proof.<\/p>\n<p><em>The Thorn Birds<\/em> actress, known for her portrayal of Meghan \u201cMeggie\u201d Cleary in the 1983 miniseries, highlighted that her age is a badge of greatness after a \u201cfew fearful trolls went on the attack of my rather unkempt appearance before Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a video posted via Instagram on Thursday, January 15, Ward noted how she has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-body\/news\/jennifer-love-hewitt-reveals-her-experience-with-ageism-in-hollywood\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">left behind the glitz and glamour of Hollywood<\/a> and is enjoying her life as a farmer now, \u201cbut really should do my hair and apply some lippy before I go on social media.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDear those of you who responded to the brouhaha over the trolls criticizing my appearance, I have tried to do a little better today. I ran my hands through my hair, etc. but anyways, just to say, do not fear aging,\u201d she said in the clip, raving over her sixties being a \u201cwonderful period of life.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4225834\" style=\"width: 900px;\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n<div class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\" style=\"padding-bottom:100%;\"><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption\"><br \/>\n Rachel Ward.<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Rachel Ward\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI am more fulfilled than ever and I have no regrets, leaving my youth and beauty behind,\u201d she continued. \u201cI\u2019m not youthful, but I am a very happy camper.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ward, who looks over a 350-head beef cattle farm with husband <strong>Bryan Brown<\/strong> in Australia\u2019s Nambucca Valley, highlighted that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/stylish\/news\/kristin-davis-speaks-out-against-frustrating-ageist-critics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">youth is fleeting<\/a>, and there are countless blessings that come with age, including wisdom on what is most important in life. (The couple celebrated 40 years of marriage in 2023. Brown and Ward wed in April 1983 and now share kids Rosie, Matilda and Joe.)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLater years are to be exalted and welcomed. You wait until you get there,\u201d the actress shared with her social media followers. \u201cThey have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/eric-stonestreet-responds-to-critics-saying-hes-too-old-for-fiancee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">so many other gifts to bestow<\/a> that you have no idea what they are until you get there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She went on to thank fans who rushed to her defense. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about me. I do recognize that we\u2019re all a little bit worried about losing our youth and resorting to rather drastic ways of holding on to it, but let it go,\u201d Ward said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4225835\" style=\"width: 900px;\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n<div class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\" style=\"padding-bottom:78.285714285714%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-4225835\" src=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=1000&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all\" alt=\"The Thorn Birds Rachel Ward Shuts Down Trolls Who Criticized Her Appearance at 68 3\" width=\"1000\" height=\"783\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=100&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 100w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=200&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=300&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=400&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 400w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=500&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 500w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=600&amp;quality=70&amp;strip=all 600w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=700&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all 700w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=800&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all 800w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=900&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 900w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=1000&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1000w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=1200&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=1400&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1400w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all 1600w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=1800&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1800w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/The-Thorn-Birds-Rachel-Ward-Shuts-Down-Trolls-Who-Criticized-Her-Appearance-at-68-3.jpg?w=1920&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) calc(100vw - 6em), (max-width: 1000px) 80vw, 1000px\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption\"><br \/>\n Rachel Ward.<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Warner Bros. Television\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In her Instagram caption, the former <em>Vogue<\/em> model quipped that she \u201cwould crawl under a rock but [is] very keen to promote my new initiative,\u201d referring to FARMTHRU, which is testing an innovative way to buy regenerative food and groceries that is better \u201cfor your family and the planet.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"news-block\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form  \">\n<div class=\"newsletter-signup__success\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<h3>Thank You!<\/h3>\n<p>You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>\u201cCheck it out and support farmers who balance both land, animals and your health,\u201d she concluded in her caption. \u201cWait until you taste the difference. Bulk buy prices.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"link-related article link-related__with-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__thumbnail related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/stylish\/news\/danica-mckellar-shares-no-filter-makeup-free-selfie-for-51st-birthday\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Danica-McKellar_610799699_18549267676046624_7428411403781416246_n-.jpg?crop=0px%2C443px%2C1500px%2C848px&amp;resize=400%2C225&amp;quality=55&amp;strip=all\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 770px) calc(100vw - 6em), 200px\" alt=\"Danica-McKellar_610799699_18549267676046624_7428411403781416246_n\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" data-fallback-img=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Danica-McKellar_610799699_18549267676046624_7428411403781416246_n-.jpg?quality=78&amp;strip=all\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content\">\n<h3 class=\"article__title\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__title-link related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/stylish\/news\/danica-mckellar-shares-no-filter-makeup-free-selfie-for-51st-birthday\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"related-badge\">Related: <\/span><span class=\"related-title\">Danica McKellar Shares Makeup-Free Selfie for Her Birthday: &#8216;This Is 51&#8217;<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\tDanica McKellar is all about aging gracefully. \u201cThis is 51! \ud83c\udf1f,\u201d McKellar wrote via Instagram on Saturday, January 3, on her 51st birthday. \u201cNo makeup, no filters, just front-facing lighting and a healthy lifestyle to look \u2014 and more importantly \u2014 *feel* the best I can. \ud83d\ude4c.\u201d In her fresh-faced selfie, the actress smiled for [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ward\u2019s husband previously dished about the secret to his long-lasting marriage, telling <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-independent.com\/life-style\/love-sex\/bryan-brown-rachel-ward-40-year-marriage-b2153926.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>The Mirror<\/em><\/a>, \u201cThe main thing is to say yes to your wife all the time, and if anything goes wrong say, \u2018It\u2019s my fault.\u2019 If men understood that, they\u2019d be happier.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The lovebirds crossed paths in 1983 when they were cast as husband and wife in <em>The Thorn Birds<\/em>. He even gave her a palm reading on set and accurately predicted she would have three children. Brown pointed out, \u201cYes, I did say that, but I didn\u2019t say they would be mine!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-body\/news\/thorn-birds-rachel-ward-shuts-down-trolls-criticizing-her-appearance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rachel Ward shared a message for trolls who criticized her appearance at age 68, telling naysayers that growing older is powerful \u2014 and she\u2019s proof. The Thorn Birds actress, known for her portrayal of Meghan \u201cMeggie\u201d Cleary in the 1983 miniseries, highlighted that her age is a badge of greatness after a \u201cfew fearful trolls [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":217115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-217114","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-celebrity"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=217114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217114\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/217115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=217114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=217114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=217114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}