In an Aug. 19 profile with Allure, the HIM actor revealed that she underwent cosmetic procedures to appeal to the male gaze and conventional beauty standards.
“It’s super important when you become famous or a public figure to be transparent,” Julia told the publication.
“Now, when I see someone and I can tell they’ve never done anything … I wish I could go back and be that person. I was so hung up on this idea that I needed to be attractive to men so that I could survive,” she said.
According to Allure, Julia said she started getting filler and Botox around the age of 21. In past interviews, she’s been forthcoming about undergoing liposuction, a rhinoplasty, and veneers.
While she hasn’t had any work done recently, she’s honest about the future. “I probably will [get more work done one day], but I’m just not as concerned with it right now.”
Julia said there’s “something to be said” about the natural beauty of older women without altered features, but it doesn’t mean she’s not afraid of aging. “That’s what I think I’m the most scared of, feeling old, and there are times where I feel old…Tired, over it, disillusioned,” she continued. “When you’re young and hot, it’s like that’s your identity. Then you’re like, shit, I need to stay young and hot.”
The 35-year-old actor and model is reexamining how she will embrace aging. “Am I going to chase the way I used to look, or am I going to evolve and see what’s on the other side? It could be something totally different, and I’m choosing to go that way. I just want to see who’s there waiting for me,” she said. “It’ll definitely be uncomfortable, but I think I’m ready for it.”
Julia’s regret about appealing to men is going viral, and people chimed in with their perspective on why her honesty is “commendable.” Here’s what they’re saying:
One person wrote, “This is why there needs to be nuanced conversations around cosmetic surgery and even cosmetics in general, especially when the line that pushed so hard is “doing my hair/nails/makeup/botox makes ME happy and that feminist.” Why does it make you happy? What’s the underlying reason there? Spoiler, it’s because society treats you better when you confirm to the standards set by men.”
“I feel like she’s going to get backlash for this but I think it’s really commendable that she’s being open to her own mistakes to help others from doing the same. Kudos to her,” another person said.
“i’m glad she was honest cause so many women will say ‘i did this for me’ no it was clearly for men. but now she loves herself more and i’m happy for her,” someone else wrote.
Finally, another person said, “There will be men saying she didn’t do it for them, and I agree that there’s increasing distaste for cosmetic surgery among men even if a lot of men still don’t recognize subtle work, but the pressure she felt was real no matter the words she puts to it.I think it’s totally correct to say women feel pressure to do this to appeal to patriarchy, with the subtext being that patriarchy misogynistically wants women to obsess and toil over their appearance even if individual men don’t appreciate the results. And of course men disproportionately support patriarchy relative to women even as it also oppresses them.”