‘Thorn Birds’ Star Rachel Ward, 68: ‘No Regrets Leaving My Youth & Beauty Behind’
What To Know
- Rachel Ward, former star of The Thorn Birds, shared on Instagram that she embraces aging and feels more fulfilled now, despite negative comments about her appearance.
- Ward emphasized that later years bring unique gifts and encouraged others not to fear growing older, expressing gratitude for the support she received from fans against online trolls.
- Having left acting, Ward now runs a regenerative beef and chicken farm in Australia, remains married to her former co-star Bryan Brown, and is the mother of three children.
Rachel Ward, best known for her 1983 turn as Meggie Cleary in the Richard Chamberlain hit The Thorn Birds, took to Instagram to tell fans “Do not fear aging, it’s a wonderful period of life,” weeks after a previous video went viral due to vicious troll comments about the former actress’ appearance.
Ward, who has left her film and TV career behind to run a small beef farm in Australia, told fans, “I am more fulfilled than ever, and I have no regrets leaving my youth and beauty behind, although I do acknowledge, as Keats says, ‘youth is beauty, beauty is youth, and that is all ye need to know.’ Well, I’m not youthful, but I’m a very happy camper.”
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In a previous video, posted to Instagram on December 20, 2025, Ward received negative comments about her appearance.
“Later years are to be exalted and welcomed, and you wait until you get there,” Ward said in her new video. “They have so many other gifts to bestow that you have no idea what they are until you get there.”
Warner Bros. Television / Courtesy: Everett Collection
“I was overwhelmed by the response and the support that I got defending me from a couple of trolls that I couldn’t care less about, so don’t worry about me,” Ward added.
Sharon Stone commented on Ward’s post, saying, “Btw u r the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen And I’ve seen them all Then Now Always.” Joe Pantoliano, who costarred with Ward in the low-budget 1983 film The Final Terror, said “Rachael, you and Brian are loved more than words can say! 🙌 You’re a stunning woman, and Nancy and I feel so lucky to have you in our lives. Im 74 now, I’m rocking every wrinkle and have given birth to a 3 lb second chin!😍”
Ward’s farm, Rachel’s Farm, sells regeneratively raised beef and chicken. She remains married to Thorn Birds costar Bryan Brown, whom she wed in 1983. The couple have three children.