Jennifer Love Hewitt speaks out about “hurtful” ageism in Hollywood

Jennifer Love Hewitt She recently spoke about ageism in Hollywood and how difficult it is for fans to accept her aging.

Despite public criticism, the actress embraces her 40s and values ​​self-acceptance and growth.

Jennifer Love Hewitt also expressed concern about negative comments affecting her children, especially her daughter.

In an interview with Fox News DigitalHewitt discussed how ageism has impacted her long career in Hollywood and how she embraces the journey of self-love and aging with grace.

The 45-year-old actress shared: “I feel like fans pick the age that they love and think represents you and you should never outgrow it. For me it was like me and my 20s. People seem to be having a really hard time accepting that I don’t look like that anymore.

She continued: “It’s hard because I think that we want to evolve as people… we want to have wrinkles on our faces, and you know, our breasts are smaller because we breastfed our children, or, you know, our Butt is bigger.”

“Whatever it is, you just want the freedom to be who you are at that age. And it’s sometimes hurtful when people verbally reject you on Instagram or online because they have a hard time getting used to it.” Hewitt added.

Hewitt, who shares children Autumn, 11, Atticus, 9, and Aidan, 3, with husband Brian Hallisay, expressed concern about how negative comments affect her children.

“I have a daughter, I’m sensitive to it because I don’t want my kids to read these things and feel that way…or worry about me getting hurt by it…that’s hard sometimes,” she explained.

However, despite the public’s reaction to her age, Hewitt shared that she is happy with her living situation.

“Age is age,” she remarked. “I think women are really getting into this situation… self-acceptance and comfort in their 40s, that’s beautiful. I love being in my 40s. I really do.”

While chatting with Fox News DigitalHewitt shared the advice she would give her younger self.

“I was always a problem child,” she said. “I was just always worried… I was having so much fun working and (thought) it would be my last one or something… people would kick me out of Hollywood and not let me act anymore.”

She admitted that despite these worries, she had a great time and was present in the moment.

“But I wasted a lot of time worrying,” Hewitt continued, before adding, “And I think I would just say to her, ‘Look, it’s going to work out. You’re starting to get old, and they’ll still let you do things… it’s okay. You’re fine.

In 2023, Hewitt responded to critics who called her “unrecognizable” after she shared a makeup-free photo with a filter on Instagram. Many commenters noted that she looked different.

“The picture ended up somewhere. And a lot of people said, ‘Jennifer Love Hewitt is unrecognizable,'” the actress recalled on the “Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum” podcast.

The actress continued, “She’s unrecognizable and that’s why she used filters because she doesn’t want us to know how bad she actually looks now, in her 40s.” And I thought, “That’s crazy.” Right? “

Hewitt joked, “I was a looker,” but admitted she no longer felt confident at the ages of 23, 24 and 25.

“I felt like I was being watched. “I felt like I always had to be everything to everyone,” the actress shared New York Post. “I was called ‘sexy’ before I even knew what sexy was. I was 17 years old on the cover of ‘Maxim’ and had no idea why.”

Hewitt’s career began when she was young. She started out on Kids Incorporated before getting her big break at age 16 as Sarah Reeves in Party of Five.

She became a household name after starring in the 1997 slasher I Know What You Did Last Summer and its sequel.

In addition to a successful television career that includes roles in Ghost Whisperer and The Client List, Hewitt has also released four studio albums.