These celebrity women are proving that natural beauty is the best accessory by rocking gray hair on the red carpet.
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There have been so many fads and fashion statements made on the red carpet of major industry events over the years. But one look that never goes out of style is women embracing themselves and their natural beauty as much as possible! For decades, leading ladies in Hollywood have stunned the red carpet not just because of their fashion choices, but also due to the thoughtful decisions they make to shirk unrealistic standards — in some cases, by showing off their natural gray hair as Diane Keaton, Andie MacDowell, Jodie Foster, and so many more have done in recent years.
MacDowell made some major headlines in 2021 when she attended the Cannes Film Festival in a dazzling Prada gown, with her hair styled with her natural, voluminous curls and gray color. Since then, the actress has loved rocking her grays and we love it too. MacDowell is totally feeling herself, and her longtime fans loved seeing her embrace this time in her life and her ageless beauty.
In 2024, she told Flowspace that going gray has been her favorite look to date. “I loved it,” she said. “I thought my eyes looked like a completely different color. I loved my skin tone and I just really wanted to do it. I had to do this for myself, ’cause you only get one life. And this was gonna bring me so much pleasure and joy.”
But there are so many more fabulous ladies who’ve done the exact same on the red carpet — and the style goes back further than you may think! Take a look through the photos to see more women who have shown off their natural gray on the red carpet and at major events over the years.
A version of this article was previously published in July 2021.
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Andie MacDowell
Image Credit: Michael Buckner for Variety Champion of the gray hair movement Andie MacDowell rocked a slicked-back do at the amfAR Gala Cannes 2024. MacDowell opened up about growing out her gray hair in a February 2024 interview with Flowspace.
“It made me so much more powerful and so much more comfortable. It made me feel me… I’m not trying to be something that I’m not.”
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Jane Fonda
Image Credit: Michael Buckner for Variety Jane Fonda looked so elegant with her gray hair the the opening ceremony for the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
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Meryl Streep
Image Credit: Michael Buckner for Variety Fonda wasn’t the only one embracing growing old with grace, Meryl Streep also joined her at Cannes with her equally elegant grays.
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Glenn Close
Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Variety We couldn’t imagine Glenn Close without her cropped gray hair which she rocked at the 2024 Variety Power Of Women awards where she also chatted with SheKnows!
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Hilarie Burton Morgan
Image Credit: Kristina Bumphrey for Variety Hilarie Burton Morgan has been slowly growing out her grays and showed just how fabulous she looks gray at the AMC Networks 2024 Upfront Red Carpet.
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Katie Holmes
Image Credit: Nina Westervelt for WWD Katie Holmes is still rocking predominately brown hair but she has been known to let her gray roots shine such as a Chanel event in February 2024.
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Kelly Hu
Image Credit: Gregg DeGuire for Variety We’re obsessed with Nash Bridges star Kelly Hu’s way of embracing her grays. When her hair is pulled back, like at the Hollywood Creative Alliance’s Astra TV Awards in 2024, her grays are the ultimate accessory.
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Frances Fisher
Image Credit: Gregg Deguire for Variety Frances Fisher has always had some of the best hair in the game whether its her fiery red hair or her stunning gray tresses.
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Jane Fonda
Image Credit: River Callaway for SXSW Conference & Festivals At SXSW 2024, Jane Fonda embraced a more causal red carpet look with her gray hair and a Canadian tuxedo.
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Jessica Lange
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images Jessica Lange looked beautiful at the 96th Annual Oscars in this black shimmering dress and her gray roots on full display.
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Jamie Lee Curtis
Image Credit: Gregg DeGuire for WWD Jamie Lee Curtis has been wearing her hair in its natural form for years and has spoken about pushing back against beauty standards that pressure people to prevent aging.
“I have been an advocate for natural beauty for a long time, mostly because I’ve had the trial and error of the other part,” she said.during a 2021 interview. “I did plastic surgery, it didn’t work. I hated it. It made me feel worse. “
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Meryl Streep
Image Credit: Variety via Getty Images Meryl Streep swooped her grays into a chic up-do at the 2024 SAG Awards where she had a very nostalgic The Devil Wears Prada reunion on stage!
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Alexandra Hedison & Jodie Foster
Image Credit: Variety via Getty Images Jodie Foster and her wife Alexandra Hedison both showcased the power of embracing grays with chic appearances at the 2024 SAG Awards.
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Annette Badland
Image Credit: Variety via Getty Images Also at the SAG Awards, Ted Lasso star Annette Badland showed off her grays with a smily red carpet appearance.
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Joni Mitchell
Image Credit: Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy. The legendary Joni Mitchell arrived in a black embroidered Johnny Was look to the 2024 Grammys.
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Susan Geston
Image Credit: Variety via Getty Images Jeff Bridges’ wife Susan Geston always embraces her grays and her appearance at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards was no different.
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Lorraine Bracco
Image Credit: Variety via Getty Images The Sopranos star Lorraine Bracco looked beautiful with her loose updo at the Emmys.
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Tantoo Cardinal
Image Credit: Variety via Getty Images Killers of the Flower Moon actress Tantoo Cardinal let her roots shine through at the AppleTV+ Primetime Emmy Party.
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Jodie Foster
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images Jodie Foster was all smiles at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards as she rocked a polka-dot black blazer and her gray-stranded hair. So gorgeous!
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Glenn Close
Image Credit: Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Image. During the 14th Governors Awards on Jan 9, 2024, Glenn Close turned heads for two reasons: her white Christian Dior gown and her gorgeous silver locks.
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Helen Mirren
Image Credit: Photo by Monica Schipper/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images. Once again, Helen Mirren showed off her gorgeous gray locks; this time at the 2024 Golden Globes!
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Melissa Gilbert
Image Credit: Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images. Little House on the Prairie alum Melissa Gilbert has been rocking her gray streaks for years now, and we’re seriously obsessed with how gorgeous she looks! (She actually said in a 2023 interview with Prevention that she adores her gray hair, saying, “I love it, it’s my favorite thing ever!”)
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Erin O’Connor
Image Credit: Photo by Antony Jones/BFC/Getty Images. Who could forget when model Erin O’Connor rocked her natural gray roots at the 2018 Fashion Awards?!
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Kristen McMenamy
Image Credit: Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage. Along with showing off her iconic, long blonde curls, Kristen McMenamy wowed with her natural gray hairs throughout.
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Sharon Stone
Image Credit: Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for WCRF. Sharon Stone always knows how to rock her natural grays, wherever she may go!
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Stacy London
Image Credit: Stephen Smith/SIPA USA)(Sipa via AP Images. Stacy London is seen everywhere with her iconic gray streaks and we’ve been obsessed with it for over a decade. London has had this natural gray streak for most of her life after it developed following a childhood illness.
“Nobody else in my family has it. I’m going to keep it. In my contract with Pantene they are not allowed to dye it,” London revealed in a 2015 interview.
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Tanya Tucker
Image Credit: Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage. Country superstar Tanya Tucker arrived in a showstopping country ensemble at the 2023 ACM Awards, with her white hair stealing the show!
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Jennifer Smieja
Image Credit: Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images. At the 2023 Oscars, Jennifer Smieja looked incredible in her white gown, and her bouncy curls that showed off her natural gray roots
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Jamie Lee Curtis
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores for Variety. Jamie Lee Curtis stole the show with both her sparkling gown and stunning white and gray hair at the 2023 Oscars.
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Andie MacDowell
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores for Variety. For the 2023 Oscars, Andie MacDowell proudly showed off her gorgeous gray hair when she stepped out with her daughter Rainey Qualley.
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Helen Mirren
Image Credit: Photo by Dominique Charriau/WireImage. For the 73rd Berlinale International Film Festival, Helen Mirren looked like a dream when she stepped out in this Vivienne Westwood gown. But her long gray-white hair stole the show, especially since she let it down for the first time on the redc arpet in awhile!
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Whoopi Goldberg
Image Credit: John Nacion for Variety Whoopi Goldberg has spoken about the importance of seeing elderly Black women in the media. When opening up about her role as 108-year-old Mother Abigail in 2018 series The Stand, Goldberg criticized older potrayals of eldery Black women in media.
“People had no idea what older black women looked like, because no one looked at old black women,” she said. “Now we look at an older black woman…[and] you’re looking at amazing faces.”
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Jamie Lee Curtis
Image Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images Jamie Lee Curtis looked stunning at the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards in this black pantsuit and ornate lace cape. “I am pro-aging,” she told TODAY in October. “I want to age with intelligence, and grace, and dignity, and verve, and energy.” We’re in awe, Jamie!
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Stacy London
Image Credit: Presley Ann/Getty Images for BlogHer Stacy London is seen everywhere with her iconic gray streaks and we’ve been obsessed with it for over a decade. London has had this natural gray streak for most of her life after it developed following a childhood illness.
“Nobody else in my family has it. I’m going to keep it. In my contract with Pantene they are not allowed to dye it,” London revealed in a 2015 interview.
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Sarah Jessica Parker
Image Credit: Kristina Bumphrey for Variety. Sarah Jessica Parker looked radiant as she showed off her grays on the Hocus Pocus 2 red carpet.
Back in 2021, Sarah Jessica Parker made her thoughts on ageism well-known in an interview with Vogue. “‘Gray hair, gray hair, gray hair. Does she have gray hair?’ I don’t know what to tell you, people,” she started. “It almost feels as if people don’t want us to be perfectly okay with where we are as if they almost enjoy us being pained by who we are today, whether we choose to age naturally and not look perfect, or whether you do something if that makes you feel better.”
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Alexandra Grant
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Hammer Museum. Artist Alexandra Grant has been rocking her gray since her 30s, sharing her hair journey on Instagram. “I went gray prematurely in my early 20s… and dyed my hair every color along the way until I couldn’t tolerate the toxicity of the dyes any more, I love and support that every womxn can choose how she wants to look at every age,” she said. “But/and, if womxn are perishing from beauty standards…then let’s talk about those beauty standards. Love to all womxn!”
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Blythe Danner
Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images. Primetime Emmy-winning actress and mama of Gwyneth Paltrow Blythe Danner isn’t afraid to show off her yellow-toned gray locks, making it her showstopping accessory with every red carpet event!
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Whoopi Goldberg
Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue. Whoopi Goldberg has been known to show her gray locks on the red carpet numerous times, working to break the stigma around it. She rocked some grays on her hairline at the 2021 Met Gala!
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Emma Thompson
Image Credit: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images. Emma Thompson always looks luminous on the red carpet, and her natural gray hair has only amplified that confident glow!
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Sarah Jessica Parker
Image Credit: Bryan Bedder for Variety In another red carpet moment, Sarah Jessica Parker let her grays peak through while donning a sleek up-do at the New York premiere of And Just Like That… in 2021.
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Diane Keaton
Image Credit: Swan Gallet for WWD Diane Keaton’s distinct personal style is all pulled together with her sleek gray hair.
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Bebe Neuwirth
Image Credit: Photo by: NDZ/STAR MAX/IPx. Frasier alum and Broadway beauty Bebe Neuwirth arrived at the 2022 Tony Awards with a vibrant dress and chic updo that perfectly showed her beautiful gray locks.
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Maye Musk
Image Credit: Photo by: zz/John Rasimus/STAR MAX/IPx. Elon Musk‘s model mother Maye Musk proudly shows her white hair wherever she goes, her she is rocking it at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.
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Elizabeth McGovern
Image Credit: Nina Westervelt for Variety Downtown Abbey star Elizabeth McGovern always looks so incredibly elegant when she lets her grays shine on the red carpet.
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Bonnie Raitt
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy. Bonnie Raitt’s signature look is of her red locks and white streak, which she’s made so chic since the 1970s. Raitt has poliosis, a rare condition where there’s a decrease or absence of melanin in the hair. And she’s been breaking the stigma around white/gray hair since!
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Paulina Porizkova
Image Credit: Photo by Franziska Krug/Getty Images for Ernsting’s Family. Paulina Porizkova is all about being open with aging in the public eye, so it’s no wonder how stunning she lookson the red carpet while rocking her natural gray locks!
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Nichelle Nichols
Image Credit: Chelsea Lauren/Variety For decades before her 2022 passing, Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols wowed fans with her all-natural gray hair.
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31st Annual MusiCares Person of the Year Gala – Arrivals
Image Credit: Brian Friedman for Variety Girls just wanna age gracefully! Cyndi Lauper has been known to rock her fabulous gray hair with streaks of purple and pink. But she went gray all over on the red carpet for the 2022 MusiCares Person of the Year Gala and looked as fabulous as ever!
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Dame Judi Dench
Image Credit: WWD. There’s nothing like a Dame, and there was no one like Dame Judi Dench at the 73rd Academy Awards in 2000! She wore her natural gray ‘do with total confidence.
