Sarah Michelle Gellar's 'ageing gracefully' admission sparks backlash
The Scooby-Doo actress' comments have kicked off a heated discussion amongst fans online
Sarah Michelle Gellar's 'ageing gracefully' admission has sparked quite the heated discussion online.
The 48-year-old actress has a seriously impressive decade-spanning filmography with stand-out performances including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Cruel Intentions, Scream 2, I Know What You Did Last Summer and, of course, Scooby-Doo.
Speaking exclusively to People, Gellar shared a little more about her beauty philosophy after taking on a new role as brand ambassador for skincare brand, Olay: "I think more than even the average person, I'm constantly compared to my younger self [because] in my position, every interview I do, they're like, 'Let's look at this picture from 25 years ago'.
"The good news is I don't want to be my younger self. I mean, sometimes I wish I had the skin and the glow of a 21-year-old, but I don't want to be a 21-year-old."
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After becoming more confident in her own skin, the actress has now embraced the whole 'less is more' mentality.
"I don't need a 27-step skincare routine. I need the best possible products that have the most effect, with the least amount of work for myself," she told the outlet.
"Being able to know that you can make a difference in your skin without doing something so drastic, to me, is really important," Gellar continued, adding: "I love the idea of dramatic results without drastic measures. And the idea of, 'I don't want to cut up my face if I don't have to.'"
"I mean, who's to say?" she went on. "You might see me at 80 looking all tight and whatever, but right now, I’m an actor. I need my face to work."
However, that's not to say that Gellar doesn't do anything when it comes to the cosmetic procedure department.
"It's a dance," she admitted. "I'm seeing younger and younger girls get facelifts. And then, I'm not going to lie, there are times when I start questioning, 'Should I be doing that?'
"Do I have Botox? Yeah, of course I do, but I can still move my face. So, it's about ageing with grace. I like to smile. I like to laugh; my laugh lines are earned."
Fans have since rushed to social media to share their thoughts on Gellar's comments, with some confused on what 'ageing with grace' entails, given that the actress has had Botox.
"So, if she's 'ageing with grace,' what is it called when you don’t undergo anti-ageing procedures? That’s not ageing with grace?" questioned one Reddit user.
A second agreed: "I’m with you. Can’t say you’re ageing with grace if you’re getting anti-ageing procedures."
Others, however, interpreted Gellar's remarks with a lot more nuance.
"My reading of 'ageing with grace' is that despite having a little Botox, she is still visibly ageing, unlike some other actresses who have 'perfectly smooth' skin, but can't move their face at all," wrote another.
And a final fan defended: "Yeah, she's not trying to look 25. She's just trying to stay on with a beautician because her paycheck in part depends on having Hollywood looks."
Topics: Celebrity, Reddit, Social Media, Beauty, Skincare, TV And Film
Rhiannon Ingle