Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) gets a visit from her ex-husband Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr.) in the new "I Know What You Did Last Summer."

Linda Hamilton is joining a chorus of women in Hollywood who are getting honest about aging.

The 69-year-old star, best known for her role in the “Terminator” franchise, opened up about the pressures of ageism in Hollywood in an interview with AARP's Movies for Grownups.

"I do not spend a moment trying to look younger on any level, ever," she said. "I have just completely surrendered to the fact that this is the face that I've earned. And it tells me so much. And sometimes it's stuff I don't want to hear."

The actress continued, "I don't chase beauty, and I don't chase longevity particularly. I'm fully planted in the moment, but that doesn't mean you don't try to be healthy. But not all the time — sometimes it is just a jelly donut. I'm not rigid, which is a fantastic way to get older."

Hamilton rose to fame with her iconic role as action hero Sarah Connor in 1984's "The Terminator," a part she reprised in the sequel, 1991's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." In 2019, she revisited the character in "Terminator: Dark Fate," which – after decades away from the sci-fi franchise – reunited her with Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator.

Hamilton will also be seen on the small screen in the final season of "Stranger Things," which premiered on Netflix Nov. 26.

Hamilton isn’t the only woman in Hollywood embracing aging — and experts say that shift is a good thing.

How stars like Jennifer Love Hewitt, Pamela Anderson, Justine Bateman are changing the narrative

Women thriving should be the norm, Susan Yara, founder of the Naturium Skincare and Mixed Makeup YouTube channel, previously told USA TODAY.

"We're more confident and self-assured, and we bring wisdom that you can only get with age," Yara said.

Jennifer Love Hewitt sparked a similar conversation about aging naturally in December of 2024 when she opened up about the sometimes-frustrating public reaction to her growing older.

"For me, it's not personally hard," the actress said of aging, but for fans, it's a different story. "I feel like fans pick … this age that they love that they think represents you, and you're never supposed to grow beyond that," Hewitt said in an interview with Fox News.

Other public figures have made headlines for embracing their aging, including Pamela Anderson, who in October 2023 went makeup-free to a Paris Fashion Week event, and Justine Bateman, who in April 2023 said she thinks she looks "rad" as she ages naturally. Kelly Ripa and Valerie Bertinelli have gotten candid about gray roots. TV personalities like Katie Couric and actress Courteney Cox have also opened up about the “intense” scrutiny older women face in the public spotlight.

Cassandra Bankson, a medical esthetician and YouTube skincare personality, previously told USA TODAY that "being able to age is a privilege" and "we should embrace how our skin takes care of us and the stories it tells."

Tips on embracing aging

If you have complicated feelings about seeing yourself without makeup or showing signs of getting older, experts offer the following guidance:

Remember that social media isn't real: Dr. Michael Keyes, a plastic surgery fellow at the University of Louisville, believes that "celebrities and influencers often use filters and photo editing apps to minimize skin discoloration, wrinkles and extra fat in unwanted places."

"It's important from a wellness standpoint to recognize what's real and what's not," he previously told USA TODAY, and encourages following influencers who post unfiltered and raw photos instead.

Adjust your makeup routine: Aging is inevitable, but you can still take steps to look and feel good. Dr. Heidi Goodarzi, a board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic and medical dermatology, suggested replacing foundation with tinted sunscreen for a wash of glow that won't conceal your natural features.

Be kind to yourself: Yara reminds us that as we age, we should be proud of our bodies for the experiences they have gone through. "My confidence is truly my secret weapon, and I gained it through years of experience and becoming comfortable with myself," she previously told USA TODAY.

Contributing: Brendan Morrow, Charles Trepany, Taijuan Moorman; USA TODAY

Rachel Hale’s role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at rhale@usatoday.com and @rachelleighhale on X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Linda Hamilton is embracing aging. Experts say it’s a good thing.

Reporting by Rachel Hale, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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