Melanie's battle for beauty (Melanie Griffith Hits The Wall)

News.Com.Au ^ | April 15,2003 | Grace Bradberry

[PJ-Comix]

THOUGH the "cosmetologists" of Beverly Hills consider it heresy to say so, expensive beauty treatments can make you look older.

Melanie is locked in a no-win war with her beauty treatments. Picture: AFP

If they don't want anyone to find this out, they should come up with a way to keep Melanie Griffith at home.

Recent pictures of the actor, 45, reveal a woman whose essential good looks are caught up in a no-win battle with her beauty treatments.

The forehead is smooth (botox injections take care of that) but a little too smooth. Her lips are plump (half the middle-aged women of Los Angeles look as if they've been punched in the mouth, thanks to collagen) but oddly misshapen, while her skin looks reddened and patchy.

There is a weary look, too, in Griffith's eyes, and a strange dissonance between those parts of her face that have been "fixed" and those allowed to take their natural course.

It is a discord that is suddenly emphasising her age rather than disguising it. The odd thing is that only a few months ago, Griffith was vowing to give up her very public struggle to look 10 years younger.

Until two years ago, she had a $2 million-a-year advertising contract with Revlon, who saw her as an icon of ageing defiantly. However, recently she quipped, "I'm too old for 'defy it'."

But what is driving Griffith in her desperate battle to hold on to her youth? With her luxurious home life, her six-year marriage to one of the world's sexiest actors, Antonio Banderas, her three children (by three different men) and the self-respect that should come from a string of successful films, why can't she enjoy what should be carefree years?

She has battled addictions to drink, drugs and prescription painkillers and now, those who know the actor nominated for an Oscar for Working Girl in 1988 say she is eaten up with anxiety, dwelling on fears about her husband's fidelity and her career.

"She has three healthy, beautiful children, a husband who loves her and enough money never to have to work again," an associate said.

"The only fly in the ointment is her own insecurity. She always talks as though Antonio staying with her is conditional. It's all: 'If I look old, will he leave me?' The irony is, there's nothing more ageing than stress and she is always stressed out about something."

Two years after she left Miami Vice star Don Johnson for Banderas, she was quoted as saying: "Antonio doesn't look at me in the same way anymore. The last time I went out without make-up he looked at me as if to say, 'Have I really married this old bag?' I'll never forget that look.

"It was full of disgust for my wrinkles and saggy skin. If he didn't think that way why would he make me exercise for five hours a day and keep sending me to the plastic surgeon? He knows what I've become - old and ugly."

[PJ-Comix]

I think Melanie Griffith's big problem is that years and years of drug abuse have taken their toll on her. Smoking also prematurely ages women.

The forehead is smooth (botox injections take care of that) but a little too smooth. Her lips are plump (half the middle-aged women of Los Angeles look as if they've been punched in the mouth, thanks to collagen) but oddly misshapen, while her skin looks reddened and patchy.

I've seen a lot of that "L.A. Look" when I lived out there. It really looks horrible on women. Perhaps these women need to make a trip to Uruguay or Argentina. The older women down there almost all looked FANTASTIC. Maybe it's something in the water down Argentine (and Uruguay) way.

[Ken522]

One would think the older woman in agrarian communities would look short, squat, and rough - you've found them to be different than that??

[Slyfox]

It really doesn't help a woman to constantly try to look like she is 21 when she is actually 45.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Smoking also prematurely ages women.

That's for sure. I know an otherwise adorable 26-year-old who is a heavy smoker and has enough lines and wrinkles to look over 40. Alcohol plays a big role, too.

[freedomlover]

I seem to remember she was adamant in a movie that NO ONE was to have blond hair in any scene she was in. Some little kid had to wear a hat in one scene.

At least I think it was her. Maybe it was another vain blonde bonehead.

[riri]

Yikes, I think I will skip the plastic surgery. OK, just the boobs then. Just the boobs and then I quit, I promise.

[Fraulein]

The insecurity probably arises from the fact that her husband is much younger than she is, and that he could have just about anyone that he wanted. I'm sure watching him romp around with Angelnia Jolie a few years back ("Original Sin") was no small comfort.

[vetvetdoug]

I think the common term for someone that looks like Melanie Griffith is Rode Hard and hung up wet.

[ErnBatavia]

OK, just the boobs then. Just the boobs and then I quit, I promise.

I wouldn't even do dat! Wifey has an acquaintance that did that sort of thing a few years ago, but the inevitable gravity took hold....she's now perky, but at a "Beltline level". (think Bob Hope's nose)

[PJ-Comix]

That's for sure. I know an otherwise adorable 26-year-old who is a heavy smoker and has enough lines and wrinkles to look over 40. Alcohol plays a big role, too.

That is what is known as a Bar Hag. Many bars across the country have regular women customers such as that.

[HairOfTheDog]

She looks fine.. Jeeesh... If I could look so good at 45. It certainly doesn't make those pointing out her flaws look more attractive.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

others will tell you not to do it go for it mrs redsox did it about 9 months ago and looks great and the 4 days of discomfort were well worth it. her only regret is she didnt get them done 5 years ago

[PLMerite]

"...dwelling on fears about her husband's fidelity...."

And of course two paragraphs later points out that she left Don Johnson for Banderas.

What goes around comes around babe.

[what's up]

I heard that Melanie Griffith's face was once ripped open by a lion.

Her mother, Tippy Hedron, is an animal-lover and kept lions. One day when Melanie was 17 or something she was playing with one and it got rough.

That was her first experience with plastic surgery. If she has to have plastic surgery for reasons like this, she can be forgiven.

[JoeSchem]

I think Melanie's problem is that she's getting older, as we all are. Drugs and smoking can hasten the day of reckoning, exercise and cosmetic surgery can push it back a decade at most. Old Age happens.

I was going to say something more, but I forgot . . . .

[ChicagahAl]

I recently rented Some Like It Hot on DVD. In the interviews with some of the gals who co-starred, they said that it was forbidden to have the same shade of blonde as Marilyn. So anyone who was similar had to color her hair.

[PJ-Comix]

She looks fine.. Jeeesh... If I could look so good at 45. It certainly doesn't make those pointing out her flaws look more attractive.

I've seen other photos of Melanie without the makeup and, believe me, she looks really bad. Other "beautiful" actresses who look really bad without makeup are Farrah Fawcett, Pamela Anderson, and Goldie Hahn.

[Doc Savage]

As the official Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for FR I must ask you to submit close-up photos (as many as you have, a 100 or so should do it) of your "boobs" as you refer to them, so that I can make an exact determination of which surgical procedure I should use.

Now as to your current "boob" size. Please be specific. In fact if you could meet me in an un-named hotel room for several hours I could give you a complete examination. This would assist me in selecting just the perfect size saline implants for you.

Of course there is always the concern regarding the nipples. Often it is necessary to to do a "hands-on" manual exploration of the nipples just to be sure they are fit and firm for the operation.

Please contact me at 1-888-555-1212; ask for Dr. BraMan

[HairOfTheDog]

So what? Pointing out anything less than perfection in women is petty and small.