Rachel Ward has hit back at trolls who have criticised her appearance online.

The iconic Australian actress, 68, took to Instagram last month to promote her ethical meat initiative Farmthru.

Rachel, who runs a 350-head beef cattle farm in the Nambucca Valley, with husband Bryan Brown, 78, was thanking customers for their patronage throughout 2025.

However, the seemingly innocuous post was met with some cruel comments from followers.

‘I read she’s 68. Looks way older! I’m 62 and can’t believe she’s only a few years older than me,’ one wrote, while another offered a similarly cutting: ‘OMG what the hell happened to u? U were so pretty???’

Another critic claimed that Rachel’s appearance was due to ‘years of neglect’.

Rachel Ward has hit back at trolls who have criticised her appearance online when she took to Instagram last month to promote her ethical meat initiative Farmthru

‘There is no need at all to even remotely look like this. Sun damage being excessive, amongst other things like teeth, etc,’ they wrote.

‘Obviously from my point of view, being from the beauty industry most of my life, this is pure neglect. Not being negative about her as a person. She seems comfortable how she looks obviously. Great actress she was.’

Several followers leapt to Rachel’s defence, with one saying: ‘For god’s sake, horrible comments – she was, is beautiful and doing an incredible job.’

Replying to the comment, Rachel said that she felt sorry for those who were critical of her appearance in the clip.

‘Thanks, you dear lady, coming to my defence,’ Rachel wrote.

‘I just feel sorry for those poor souls who fear ageing so much. They will learn that it’s ultimate freedom as a woman to let youth and beauty go.

‘It was lovely while it lasted, but so much more to life. You can’t know its pleasures until you get there.’

Many more came to Rachel’s defence, praising her for her refreshing approach to ageing.

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However, the seemingly innocuous post was met with some cruelly ageist comments from followers

Rachel is pictured in 1987

Rachel, who is pictured with husband Bryan Brown, said that she felt sorry for those who were critical of her appearance in the clip

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‘Love this actress who I discovered in the 80s film Sharkey’s Machine,’ one fan wrote.

‘So happy that she has not turned herself into a plastic surgery mummy like so many iconic Hollywood actors.’

Another jumped in with: ‘Don’t young people today know what natural ageing is?’

One supportive follower summed up the sentiment of many with: ‘She is the epitome of a natural beauty! I love her authenticity… so refreshing in a ‘manufactured’ world.’

Rachel and Bryan took over the NSW beef farm back in 1986 and, following the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019, shifted to regenerative farming practices – a journey that was documented in her 2023 film, Rachel’s Farm.

Born in the UK, Rachel relocated permanently after marrying fellow acting icon Bryan Brown in 1983.

The couple met on the set of the mini-series The Thorn Birds, and went on to have three children – Rosie, 42, Matilda, 39, and Joe, 34.

Speaking to Channel Seven in 2019, Rachel revealed the undeniable sexual chemistry that existed between her and Bryan on the Thorn Birds set.

‘Thanks, you dear lady, coming to my defence,’ Rachel wrote. ‘I just feel sorry for those poor souls who fear ageing so much. They will learn that it’s ultimate freedom as a woman to let youth and beauty go. ‘It was lovely while it lasted, but so much more to life. You can’t know its pleasures until you get there.’

‘He had nice pecs. I mean, you know, it’s pretty chemical, isn’t it? It’s pretty basic,’ she admitted.

‘There’s not much thought goes into it. I fancied him. You know, that was about it.’

When asked who made the first move, Rachel couldn’t resist throwing her husband under the bus.

‘He was slow as a wet week. Really took forever. I think I probably did,’ she said.