Melissa Gilbert’s ‘Great’ Face Didn’t Feel like Hers in Her 40s before Earning ‘Freedom’

Melissa Gilbert acknowledges that at almost 60, she feels her age and embraces it as it comes. However, she admitted that until she was in her 40s, she realized her face didn't feel like hers.

Melissa Gilbert once succumbed to the pressures of Hollywood. Actresses had to look a certain way, and for her to continue being cast, she felt she needed to alter her appearance.

Throughout her career, Gilbert was asked to lose weight, pad her bra, and cover her freckles. So, she ultimately chose to get breast implants and had her nose done.

Gilbert also relied on Botox and fillers. "It just kept creeping up, you start doing them, and then you need a little more," she admitted. Now that the actress is nearing her 60s, Gilbert is more aware of her age. She has aches and pains here and there, and it's taken a toll on her.

However, while she now embraces her age, one thing she doesn't want to invest in is anti-aging. Instead, she wants to focus on staying healthy, keeping herself hydrated, and doing good things for her body. "Fighting something that's inevitable is a losing battle," she said. She's done choosing to look a certain way like she did when she was younger.

After all, her "great" face didn't feel like her face while working in the industry. Now, she's earned the "freedom" to do things on her own terms, and that's through eating healthy and working out.

Melissa Gilbert has chosen to live a life away from the spotlight in recent years. She and her husband, Timothy Busfield, purchased a New York cottage in 2018 and turned it into a lovely, cozy home.