Jennifer Love Hewitt celebrated her 46th birthday by posting four makeup-free selfies on Instagram, showcasing her natural beauty. The I Know What You Did Last Summer alum captioned her post for her 1.7 million followers: “46 years old. No make up and no filter. (One of my besties hates a filter so this is for you).”
She continued, candidly, “It’s been a hard start to the year. I don’t quite feel myself. But yet I feel like maybe this is all to bring me closer to who I am meant to be. In this feeling of loss and being lost I have found a strange calm and letting go that doesn’t usually come easy to me. I know that I have the greatest kids and husband ever.”
Jennifer Love Hewitt Shares A Filter-Free Selfie On Her 46th Birthday & Speaks On The 'Cruel' Way Society Treats Aging Women
The Ghost Whisperer star (who shares kids Autumn, 11, Atticus, 9, and Aidan, 3, with her husband Brian Hallisay) went on: "My brothers hugs heal me. I feel my mom with me everyday. My friends make me want to be a better human daily. I have all the things I really need and long truly for nothing other than joyful moments, continuing in the career I love, more time with friends, delicious food and to feel a shift to this year that brings clarity and hopefully the return of a little magic."
The "How Do I Deal" singer also took a moment to address the harsh treatment women in their 40s and older face as they age. "I have experienced and seen how the world can be cruel to women as they age and yet seen the women I admire become happier, sexier and more powerful with every added number," she wrote.
The Criminal Minds actress also noted: "I am so deeply grateful for this life. I love all who choose to do it by my side and I am ready to give love today to the younger me and the older me because they are my ride or die’s. Sending love to all and cheers to 46!"
Fans headed to the comments section to share their thoughts. "This is beautiful, and so are you!!" one wrote as another added, "You’re stunning." Someone else replied, "Happiest of birthdays!!! Ur beauty shines brightly in and out!"
Hewitt previously opened up about aging in the public eye during an appearance on the Inside of You podcast with Michael Rosenbaum. Responding to criticism from fans about her appearance (particularly after she revealed a new dark bob on Instagram in seemingly filtered selfies), the 9-1-1 star dismissed claims that she looked “unrecognizable.”
“Aging in Hollywood is really hard,” Hewitt said in the discussion with host Rosenbaum. “It’s really hard because you can’t do anything right.”
Rosenbaum asked Hewitt why she even pays any mind to "people who have nothing better to do than to put you down." She replied: "Because to pretend that we don't is a lie."
She also pointed out that many fans on social media (especially those who are around the same age as her) are positive and supportive: "I will say the majority of people have been very kind to me. They've grown up with me. They look like I do now." Hewitt added: "We're all getting lines and maybe in menopause and who knows what else is coming for us."
