Jennifer Love Hewitt discusses ‘offensive’ ageism in Hollywood

Jennifer Love Hewitt recently discussed ageism in Hollywood, talking about how hard it is for fans to accept her aging.

Despite public criticism, the actress embraces her 40s, valuing self-acceptance and evolution.

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

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

The 45-year-old actress shared, “I feel like fans pick this age that they like, that they think represents you and you never have to grow up. For me, it was like me being in my 20s. People seem to have a really hard time coming to terms with the fact that I don’t look like that anymore.”

She continued: “It’s hard because I think as humans we want to evolve … we want to have wrinkles on our faces and you know, our boobs got lower when we breastfed our babies or you know our asses are bigger.”

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

Hewitt, who has children Autumn, 11, Atticus, 9, and Aidan, 3, with husband Brian Hallisey, expressed her concern about how the negative comments are affecting her children.

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

However, despite public reaction to her aging, Hewitt shared that she feels at peace with where she is in life.

“Age is age,” she noted. “I think women are really coming into this… acceptance of themselves and being comfortable in their 40s, which is beautiful. I love being in my 40s. I really do.”

During the conversation with Fox News DigitalHewitt shared the advice she would give her younger self.

“I’ve always been anxious,” she said. “I was just always worried … I was having so much fun at work and (thought) this was going to be my last one or something … people were going to kick me out of Hollywood and not let me act anymore.”

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

“But I’ve wasted a lot of time worrying,” Hewitt continued, before adding, “And I think I’d just tell her, ‘Look, it’s going to work out. You’ll start getting old and they’ll still let you do something…it’s okay.

In 2023, Hewitt hit back at critics who called her “unrecognizable” after she shared a photo without makeup with a filter on Instagram. Many commentators have noted that she looks different.

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

The actress continued: “She’s unrecognizable, and that’s why she’s gone with a filter because she doesn’t want us to know how bad she actually looks now in her 40s.” And I said, “That’s crazy.” right?”

Hewitt joked, “I was pretty,” but admitted she didn’t feel confident at ages 23, 24 and 25.

“I felt that I was being watched. I felt that I had to be everything to everyone all the time,” the actress shared. New York Post. “I was called sexy before I knew what it was to be sexy. I was 17 on the cover of Maxim and I had no idea why.”

Hewitt’s career took off when she was young. She started out with Kids Incorporated before landing her breakthrough role as Sarah Reeves in Party of Five at the age of 16.

She rose to fame after starring in the 1997 slasher film 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.