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

Rachel Ward has hit back at online trolls who took aim at her appearance after she shared a video promoting her ethical meat business, Farmthru.

Rachel said that she felt sorry for those who were critical of her appearance in the clip
 
Ward attends the World Premiere of ‘Beautiful Kate’ as part of the Sydney Film Festival 2009 at the State Theatre on June 13, 2009 in Sydney, Australia

The 68-year-old Thorn Birds star took to Instagram last month to thank customers for supporting the initiative throughout 2025. Rachel runs the beef cattle farm in Australia alongside her husband Bryan Brown, 78, whom she married in 1983 just months after they first met while filming the iconic mini-series The Thorn Birds.

The couple famously portrayed husband and wife Luke O’Neill and Meggie Cleary on screen, and went on to welcome three children — Rosie, 42, Matilda, 39, and Joe, 34.

But while promoting her farm work, Rachel was stunned by the cruelty of some responses to her post.

“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 commenter wrote. Another added: “OMG what the hell happened to u? U were so pretty???”

A third claimed her appearance was the result of “years of neglect”.

However, many fans rushed to her defence, with one writing: “For god’s sake, horrible comments – she was, is beautiful and doing an incredible job.”

Responding directly, Rachel revealed she felt nothing but sympathy for those who attacked her looks.

“Thanks, you dear lady, coming to my defence,” she replied.

“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 there’s so much more to life. You can’t know its pleasures until you get there.”

Rachel has long been candid about both life and love. Speaking in 2019, she reflected on the chemistry between her and Bryan while filming The Thorn Birds.

“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. That was about it.”

When asked who made the first move, she laughed: “He was slow as a wet week. Really took forever. I think I probably did.”