Sarah Jessica Parker has defended Thorn Birds star Rachel Ward after she was viciously trolled for sharing a no make-up selfie recently.

The Sex and the City actress, 60, commented under a recent post of Rachel’s that garnered a huge amount of reaction from mean critics.

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.

The seemingly innocuous post was met with some cruel comments from followers.

However many big names, including Sarah have now defended her.

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Sarah Jessica Parker has defended Thorn Birds star Rachel Ward after she was viciously trolled for sharing a no make-up selfie recently

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The iconic Australian actress, 68, took to Instagram last month to promote her ethical meat initiative, Farmthru, but the seemingly innocuous post was met with some cruel comments

The Carrie Bradshaw actress penned under a recent post from her daughter calling out the trolls: ‘She is sincerely beautiful. For real. No qualifiers. Just a beauty. I’m sure inside and out. Xxx.’

Zoe Saldana also showed her support as she penned: ‘Your mother is stunning!!! Always has been.’

Sarah Cawood added: ‘She’s stunning. Always was. Still is. My mum always says if you have nothing nice to say..SAY NOTHING!’

After hitting back at the trolls in a now-viral response, Rachel took to Instagram again on Friday to extol the virtues of ageing.

‘Dear those that responded to the brouhaha over the trolls criticising my appearance, I have tried to do a little better today – I ran my hands through my hair, etcetera,’ Rachel joked.

Continuing, Rachel added that ageing was not something to be feared, but rather something to be welcomed with open arms.

‘Anyway, just to say, do not fear ageing, it’s a wonderful period of life,’ she said.

‘In [my] 60s, I am more fulfilled than ever and I have no regrets over leaving my youth and beauty behind.’

However many big names, including Sarah have now defended her. Sarah wrote: ‘She is sincerely beautiful. For real. No qualifiers. Just a beauty. I’m sure inside and out. Xxx.’

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Rachel is pictured with Richard Chamberlain on the beach in The Thorn Birds in 1983

Rachel then claimed, paraphrasing the poet John Keats, that beauty was the dominion of the young, before admitting that ageing also holds its own charms.

‘Although I do acknowledge, as Keats says, ‘youth is beauty, beauty is youth, and that is all you need to know,” she said.

‘Well, I’m not youthful, but I’m a very happy camper and later years are to be exalted and welcomed, and you wait until you get there.

‘[There are] so many other gifts to bestow that you have no idea what they are until you get there.’

Rounding out her post, Rachel said that she was overwhelmed with the messages of support she received after her trolling incident.

‘But I do recognise that we’re all a little bit worried about losing our youth and resorting to rather drastic ways of holding onto it. But let it go and much bounty will come,’ Rachel said.

She also doubled down on the sentiment in the clip’s caption, joking that she should make more of an effort before taking to social media.

‘Overwhelmed by the generosity that poured forth after a few fearful trolls went on the attack of my rather unkempt appearance before Christmas,’ she wrote.

‘I’m a farmer now, but really should do my hair and apply some lippy before I go on social media. Apologies for frightening a few of you.’

Rachel’s post was met with another outpouring of support from followers, including My Kitchen Rules star Colin Fassnidge, who responded with a clapping hands emoji.

Former Block judge Neale Whitaker also praised Rachel for her refreshing approach to ageing.

‘What a beautiful, generous and eloquent response,’ he wrote.  ‘And I agree with you wholeheartedly. I was dreading my 60s but I’m actually loving them.’

Another follower added: ‘I saw your previous post and was really impressed by how naturally beautiful you are. You are and always have been simply stunning.’

A fourth summed up the sentiment of many with: ‘Ageing is an honour and a privilege that not everyone gets to experience, and you are doing it with such grace.’

Rachel’s pre-Christmas 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 responded: ‘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.’

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.

Last week Rachel also addressed the hate saying from her farm: ‘I couldn’t care less.’

‘The whole thing has become rather over-inflated because it touched a nerve and it’s probably time the conversation was had,’ she added, talking exclusively to the Daily Mail.

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After hitting back at the trolls in a now-viral response, Rachel took to Instagram again on Friday to extol the virtues of ageing

‘Women fear being judged and criticised for ageing naturally. They feel they have to hang on to their youth and are resorting to rather drastic ways of doing it. But let it go! And much bounty will come from it.

‘I was just a catalyst for the debate, but the trolls absolutely didn’t ruffle my feathers. If you expose yourself online, you have to expect it, don’t you?

‘There’s a hypocrisy about it. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. I’ve no criticism of anyone who chooses to have treatments, but I just can’t be bothered. And I don’t know why people are.

‘It’s not as if I care about being attractive because I’m looking for a mate or trying to hold on to one. Those days are long gone.’