I Want Women To Embrace Ageing, Be Proud Of It, And Do It Well.

That’s what Cameron Diaz wishes for us! And in her two books on healthy living and ageing, she pulls together a strategy for doing just this. We loved this no-nonsense interview with her, and we definitely plan on taking a leaf out of her book.

- Terry Malloy

Q: I was very impressed with your book, The Longevity Book. Is it particularly difficult for you, as a movie star, to talk about age?

A: I don’t think so. When I turned 40 I did a lot of press for a movie and everybody was asking me if I was terrified about the big 4-0. And I said, ‘Honestly, no. I can’t wait to turn 40.’ But I knew what they meant in terms of my career. I wasn’t 25 any more and everybody knew that. So I was no longer valuable. I thought to myself, ‘Why are they saying that? I feel amazing! But deep inside it hurt. Doubt came up and I said to myself, ‘Maybe I should be scared. Maybe it means that everything is over now!’ But I felt really vital then and I feel really vital now, at 44. I realised they weren’t talking about my physical wellbeing; they were talking about my career and whether I would be able to withstand being a 40-year-old in society. If people didn’t see me as a 25-year-old, who would I be?

Q: What do we associate most with ageing?