As Hollywood’s golden generation of male stars fades into the sunset, a coterie of leading men have begun to turn to unnatural means to maintain their looks – and it’s not just plastic surgery they’re resorting to. With rumors swirling about everything from Botox injections to puffy cheeks, some of Tinseltown’s most beloved faces have been transformed beyond recognition.
Take Ryan Gosling for example. The 43-year-old actor has long been celebrated for his rugged good looks – but recent appearances suggest he may be succumbing to the pressures of Hollywood ageism. With a waxy shine and seemingly inflated cheeks, Gosling’s appearance has caused something of a stir among disconcerted fans on social media. Has he been primping and pumping, some wonder? Others suggest that his new look could be the result of an allergic reaction or lockdown weight gain – but for a man with access to the world’s best practitioners and personal trainers, it felt safe to say the bum-look hadn’t been intentional.
Indeed, Gosling is far from alone in his apparent quest to turn back the clock. With the age gaps between on-screen partners becoming increasingly problematic in a post-MeToo era, it seems that male stars are feeling the pressure to stay youthful and virile as they get older.
Take James Bond star Daniel Craig for example. The 56-year-old actor’s most recent outing in the film franchise, No Time to Die, revealed he had no time for jowls – but it was all too clear that something was amiss with his face. Truly, such a mishap could only afflict the rich and famous of La La Land.
Tom Cruise is another example. The 61-year-old actor has been rumored to be turning to unnatural means to maintain his boyish looks – but recent appearances have suggested that he may be succumbing to the pressures of Hollywood ageism. With a pre-publicity trail makeover appearing to have given the actor a bad bout of facial rigor mortis, it’s clear that the pressure to stay young and virile is getting to him.
It’s not just Hollywood’s male stars who are feeling the effects of aging in an ageist industry – their female counterparts are facing similar challenges. With a wage gap that still persists between men and women, many actresses find themselves struggling to maintain their looks on set without risking their careers. This has led to some turning to plastic surgery or other unnatural means to stay young and virile – but it’s clear that the pressure is getting to them.
One such star is Zac Efron, who was forced to address rumors of a jaw-gate scandal in 2022 after being injured in a granite fountain accident. The High School Musical alum blamed his new face on an unfortunate collision – but it’s clear that the pressure to stay young and virile is getting to him.
Of course, not all male stars are turning to plastic surgery or other unnatural means to maintain their looks. Some, like Brad Pitt, have managed to age gracefully with a naturally lifted contour that belies his 60 years. With a jawline as sharp as when he was modeling Levi’s jeans in his twenties, the actor appears to have no plans to relinquish to his looks.
With Hollywood’s male stars feeling increasingly pressured by ageism and gender gaps in an industry that still values youthfulness above all else, it seems likely that we’ll see more of them turning to unnatural means to maintain their looks – but it remains to be seen whether they can do so without sacrificing their natural charisma.
