It’s well-known that Hollywood stars, especially women, often feel pressure to look young as they get older. We frequently hear about celebrities’ latest cosmetic treatments and beauty routines to stay youthful.
However, some choose to embrace their natural appearance and age gracefully. One of these stars is Justine Bateman, who recently talked openly about her choice to avoid cosmetic work, despite the pressures of society.
Justine Bateman is an actress, director, and writer, widely known for her role as Mallory in the 1980s sitcom *Family Ties*, which she starred in as a teenager. She also appeared in *Men Behaving Badly* and had recurring roles in shows like *Desperate Housewives* and *Still Standing*. Justine is also the older sister of well-known actor Jason Bateman.
“I just don’t care,” Justine Bateman said in an interview with 60 Minutes Australia. “I think I look cool. I think my face shows who I am. I like it.”
At 57, Bateman, like many actresses her age, has faced pressure to get plastic surgery. But she’s chosen to embrace her age and avoid any cosmetic procedures.
She explained that getting surgery would feel like erasing the wisdom and experience she has now. “I like seeing that I’m a different person now than I was at 20,” she said. “I like looking in the mirror and seeing that change.”
Bateman started receiving harsh comments about her looks when she was around 40. Some compared her natural aging to a “sea hag” or “meth addict,” and she felt pressured to change her appearance. “I thought my face looked fine,” she told People in 2021. But these comments made her doubt herself and feel embarrassed about her face.
Over time, Bateman decided to ignore the criticisms and accept her natural aging. “Changing your face won’t make your fears disappear,” she said. “If you get plastic surgery, you’ll look different, but the fear will still be there. I think people get surgery just to please others.”
In her book Face: One Square Foot of Skin, Bateman wrote about these struggles and shared that she feels “sad” for women who focus heavily on cosmetic changes. “I feel sad they’re not just enjoying life,” she said to 60 Minutes. “I feel sad that they’re so consumed with ‘fixing’ their face instead of focusing on what they’re meant to do in life.”
We think Justine Bateman looks amazing just as she is! No one should feel pressured to change their appearance — thank you, Justine Bateman, for inspiring more women to age naturally.