Ali MacGraw, Defining Beauty

'70s Icon Revels In The Calm And Creativity Of Life In Santa Fe

(CBS)  "So often I wish I could work in Europe because in Europe there's more reverence for people over 35," she says. "And we get to look like women over 35 really look. Which I think is important because there's a whole generation coming up who better understand that they don't have to completely surgically alter themselves by 32 to even show up to work. [In Europe] they have people like Vanessa Redgrave and all these great older brilliant beautiful actors working. It's very rare in America that a major studio really goes that way."

2Besides, she says, there's more to life than acting.

"I've had to pay my rent in many different ways and my overnight 'celebrity' based on a couple of movies was unexpected, unprepared for, and I'm so grateful that before I was in my late 20s I had to work for 15 years doing so many things in the arts and in fashion," she says. "I'm a great waitress, and I'm a very good maid. I just love knowing I'm not above anything it will take to keep the roof from leaking."

"You are an icon for a generation," I remind her. "You owe me for all those boxes of Kleenex I used up while crying during 'Love Story.'"

"And you obviously never listened to that sentence about 'Love means never having to say you're sorry,'" she teases back.

MacGraw says that even today, more than 35 years after "Love Story" was released, anywhere in the world she goes people come up to her and say, "Oh my God, you made me cry."

"I call it a freak," she says, "because I was in this movie that was the 'it' movie of its moment. So it was a movie that has nothing to do with 'the greatest actress.' It was the right time and the right place and we all gelled, I guess. It's afforded me unbelievable access. I'm very, very blessed, because I know brilliant, gorgeous actresses who have not had the luck I had in being in a huge motion picture."

Looking at today's troubled young starlets - and politely not naming names - MacGraw observes that she was able to hold her own because stardom came to her when she was already almost 30.

"We're watching now all these kids who get shot out of a gun at 16 looking cuter than anybody and then two years later they have great bodies and they're sex objects," she says, acknowledging that she's making a generalization. "They're babies and they've never had grounding. Nowadays I think the paparazzi are so frightening and the assumption is that this job includes access to your private life, too. It's a tough time."

Perhaps a little time in Santa Fe would do some of these young stars some good. For MacGraw, it's a place where she has found a peaceful way of life that is also her secret for ageless beauty.

"I live a very healthy lifestyle that would probably bore the daylights out of people," she laughs. "I do yoga every day. I meditate. I walk my dog for 40 minutes even if it means getting up at 5:30 in the morning because I want the stillness. I do all the things we were told as kids: I don't smoke or do drugs, I don't drink. It's not to be prissy; it's just that it's healthier for me."

The interview over, MacGraw graciously says goodbye and gets ready to leave. She throws on a black wool jacket, wraps a long grey scarf around her neck, places a - what else? - matching knit cap on her head and strides off into the cold New Mexico night.

[barbaraf4]

Wonderful article! Good Bye Columbus and Love Story were just the tip of the iceburg. She is a terrific role model that the Britney''s of the current generation should study.

[shortmama2]

Great article; I can "hear" Ali''s voice. Thanks!

[keithle1]

The roles are playing someone''s mother & grandmother. Rarely is it anything interesting.

Soon as they hit 40, it''s a whole new ball game for actresses.

[briansgirl2]

My goodness, what an idol! I just love Ali McGraw. That movie had me crying buckets. She was a natural in that. Welcome back, Ms. McGraw.

[jetlizhan]

wow - hope i look that good when i''m 69!!!

[some8788]

Can''t describe her beauty in words! She is the more attractive woman! Just saw her pics at the celeb club millionairecupid.com, seems she need love too.