Monica Bellucci has opened up about ageing, beauty and the changes that come with maturity, saying she would rather accept getting older with dignity than fight the process.
The Italian actress, who turned 62 on 30 September, discussed ageing in an interview with Harper's Bazaar España, published on 18 September. Bellucci described getting older as 'a wonderful gift' and said maturity had given her a different perspective on life and her care.
Accept the Process or Die
'There's no real alternative: either you grow old and accept the process with dignity, or you die,' Bellucci said in the interview. 'Looking at it that way, I'd much rather grow old.'
She added that growing older meant being fortunate enough to remain alive and have a future. For Bellucci, one of the most significant changes brought by age is what she described as 'detachment.'
The actress said maturity can allow a person to become more of an observer of the world, rather than viewing everything solely through the perspective of their profession or personal circumstances.
'The Birthday Party'
Bellucci also connected ageing with her approach to acting. She said her current age and life experiences helped prepare her for her role in Léa Mysius' psychological thriller The Birthday Party, known by its original French title Histoires de la nuit.
In the film, Bellucci plays Cristina, an Italian painter who lives near a family on an isolated property. The film premiered in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and was released in France in September.
Bellucci said she could not have played the character in the same way when she was 30 or 40. She argued that portraying a character carrying emotional history required experiences that could not simply be recreated through make-up or an older appearance.
According to the actress, physical changes are only one part of ageing. She said the more important transformation happens internally, with accumulated experiences influencing how an actor approaches a character.
'Bodies change over time,' Bellucci said, while explaining that what matters is how people change on the inside. She said those changes can become visible in a performance once the camera starts rolling.
Bellucci also offered a broader definition of beauty. Rather than focusing only on physical appearance, she said she now associates beauty with having a 'rich inner life.'
A Fulfilling Life
She pointed to experiences including watching her children grow, spending time with family and friends, enjoying nature and maintaining passions as parts of a fulfilling life.
The actress has two daughters, Deva and Léonie, with her former husband, actor Vincent Cassel. Bellucci has spoken publicly about motherhood and the changing relationship she has with her daughters as they have grown older.
She said that the passage of time can make ordinary experiences feel more significant because people become more aware of vulnerability, physical limitations and mortality.
Bellucci added that simple moments, including waking up healthy or enjoying the smell of coffee, can become reasons for gratitude with age.
The actress' comments come as she continues working in film and fashion at 62. Her role in The Birthday Party marks another screen appearance in a career spanning more than three decades, during which she has worked in Italian, French and international productions.
