Jennifer Love Hewitt Speaks Out Against Hollywood Ageism
Jennifer Love Hewitt, the star and director of Lifetime’s new Christmas movie The Holiday Junkie, is using her platform to confront ageism in Hollywood. After decades in the entertainment industry, the 45-year-old actress has grown accustomed to the scrutiny surrounding her looks and aging process. But now, she’s speaking out about the hurtful comments and the importance of embracing herself at every stage of life.
“Age is age,” Hewitt told Fox News Digital. “Women really come into this acceptance of themselves in their 40s, and it’s beautiful.”
While she feels confident in her current stage of life, she acknowledges that public reactions to her aging remain challenging. Hewitt pointed out that fans often cling to an image of her from her 20s—when she rose to fame in I Know What You Did Last Summer and Heartbreakers.
“For me, it’s hard because people want you to stay the same forever,” she admitted. “We want to evolve as humans. We want to have lines on our faces and celebrate the changes that come with life.”
Facing Online Criticism
The scrutiny of her appearance came to a head last year when social media users criticized a makeup-free photo she posted with a filter. Headlines labeled her “unrecognizable,” suggesting she used filters to conceal her age.
“This is crazy,” Hewitt said, reflecting on the backlash. “I don’t want my kids reading things like that and thinking I’m hurt by them—or worse, that they should worry about how they look as they grow up.”
Now a mother of three, Hewitt is even more conscious of how public discourse about appearance impacts self-esteem. Her daughters, Autumn and Aidan, were involved in her directorial debut, The Holiday Junkie, where she worked alongside her husband, actor Brian Hallisay.
Advice to Her Younger Self
When asked what advice she’d give her younger self, Hewitt said: “Stop worrying. I wasted so much time being afraid of getting kicked out of Hollywood or not being good enough. It all works out. You’re going to get older, and they’ll still let you do what you love.”
Jennifer Love Hewitt’s story is one of resilience, growth, and determination to redefine beauty and relevance on her terms. Through her advocacy and creative projects like The Holiday Junkie, she continues to inspire fans to embrace every stage of life with confidence and grace.
