Italian actress Monica Bellucci, 62, has shared that she views ageing as a wonderful gift while posing for a new photo shoot for Harper's Bazaar España.
The former fashion model showcased her ageless complexion in an interview for the publication's October issue, where she spoke out against the idea that getting older is a negative process for women.
Describing the entertainment industry as artificial, Bellucci explained that while accepting getting older can be difficult for some women, there is no other real alternative.
"Either you grow old and accept the process with dignity, or you die. Looking at it like this, I prefer to age a thousand times - laughs," Bellucci said.
She added: "Getting older means that you are fortunate to be alive and have a horizon. In addition, maturity brings with it a wonderful gift: detachment."
Bellucci noted that advancing years bring a fresh perspective on life and work. "Sometimes, when you get older, you stop being just an actress and become a spectator of the world, which makes you see everything from another point of view," she told the magazine.
Changing roles for mature women in film
During the interview, Bellucci highlighted positive shifts in the film industry regarding opportunities for older actresses. She pointed out that past generations of performers faced steep professional barriers once they reached middle age.
"In the past, it was almost impossible for actresses to have a career after the age of 40," Bellucci said.
Now residing in France, the star pointed to prominent French cinematic figures who continue to lead major projects and public campaigns.
"Now I live in France and I see references such as Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert or Fanny Ardant, extraordinary women who have not stopped filming, starring on covers and leading campaigns with indisputable authority," she explained.
She emphasized that audiences actively seek out stories centered on experienced women. "It is understood that a mature woman has fascinating stories to tell and the public demands to see those realities on the big screen," Bellucci added.
Redefining inner beauty and gratitude
Bellucci also discussed her personal definition of attractiveness, explaining that true confidence stems from inner fulfillment rather than external appearance.
"That goes beyond what people perceive; the important thing is what you feel inside," she said regarding what it means to feel beautiful.
"I think it's about having an enriching inner life, a passion that encourages you, watching your children grow up, contemplating the sea, having friends, a family you love... a full woman's life," she added.
The actress noted that getting older brings an intensity of appreciation that younger people often overlook.
"You want to stay alive and that makes you perceive things with an intensity that you don't have when you were young, because you take everything for granted: you don't think about physical pain, vulnerability or death," she said.
Bellucci reflected on how daily moments take on greater significance over time. "As the years go by, the perspective changes. You wake up in the morning and being healthy or enjoying the aroma of a coffee becomes a reason for gratitude. But that is only understood with time," she shared.
Separation from director Tim Burton
The magazine shoot comes after Bellucci and Hollywood director Tim Burton, 68, announced last year that they had separated after dating since October 2023.
In a joint statement released at the time of their split, the couple announced: "It is with much respect and deep care for each other that Monica Bellucci and Tim Burton have decided to part ways."
The pair first met in 2006, but their romantic relationship began after seeing each other at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon in October 2022.
Bellucci publicly confirmed their relationship in June 2023 during an interview with Elle France, saying: "What I can say... I'm glad I met the man, first of all."
"It's one of those encounters that rarely happens in life... I know the man, I love him, and now I'm going to meet the director, another adventure begins," she continued at the time. "I love Tim. And I have great respect for Tim Burton."
Burton directed Bellucci in the fantasy comedy sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, marking their first professional collaboration. Burton has a habit of casting his lovers in his films, and Bellucci played Delores, the ex-wife of Michael Keaton's character Beetlejuice.
Bellucci was not part of the cast of the original Beetlejuice movie, which was released 38 years ago.
The couple were last photographed together in public in June 2025 at the 71st Taormina Film Festival in Italy, where Burton was seen lovingly kissing Bellucci on the cheek while on stage.
Past marriages and family history
Prior to her relationship with Burton, Bellucci was in a relationship with Nicolas Lefebvre, from whom she split in 2019.
She was previously married to French actor Vincent Cassel from 1997 until 2013. The former model first met Cassel in 1996 on the set of director Gilles Mimouni's film l'Appartement.
The couple married in 1997 during a quiet ceremony held in Monaco on the French Riviera. During their 16-year marriage, they welcomed two daughters: Deva, born in 2004, and Leonie, who was born in 2010.
Burton also has a prominent high-profile relationship history. He was famously in a 13-year relationship with The Crown and Harry Potter actress Helena Bonham Carter, 60, before they split in 2014.
Burton and Bonham Carter first became involved in 2001 after he cast her as an ape in his film Planet Of The Apes. Although they were never married, they share two children: son Billy, 22, and daughter Nell, 18.
During their time together, Burton and Bonham Carter famously lived in inter-connecting houses decorated according to their separate personal styles and tastes.
Bonham Carter retained ownership of both properties following their 2014 separation. She later admitted that the living arrangement made her feel like an alien person, as she sleeps in one house while their children stay in the other.
