Melissa Gilbert opened up about her decision to leave Los Angeles, California, the area she still considers her hometown. Gilbert, who has a guest starring role in the current season of Hallmark’s “When Calls the Heart,” and previously competed on “Dancing with the Stars,” now considers Manhattan, New York her home.
Melissa Gilbert Felt Unsafe in Los Angeles
On January 25, Gilbert talked with Page Six about the decision. As the media outlet noted, Gilbert moved to New York from Los Angeles in 2013. She hasn’t regretted the decision.
“I just didn’t feel like that was a safe place for me to age. It’s so anti-aging, which is one of my least favorite expressions in the world. Anti-aging means dead,” Gilbert shared.
Before she left Los Angeles, Gilbert felt pressure “not to get any older and [to] stay a size 2 or 4 or whatever [she] was at that time.”
Soon after Gilbert left Los Angeles and settled down in New York, she knew it was the right move. “I went from, “Oh God, I better not get older!’ to ‘Oh God, I’m so glad I’m older!”
Gilbert added, “I love the age I am right now. Sixty has been the most incredible year, just to look back on all the things I’ve done and to know that I’ve earned my opinions, I have value, I am wise.”
Fans Love How She’s Aging Gracefully
Despite knowing Los Angeles was not the right place for her to live as she aged, she still has a special place in her heart for the area.
Gilbert admitted, “I did not realize the depth of love that I have for my hometown until the wildfires.”
She continued, “It’s devastating and I do love so much about Los Angeles. It just wasn’t the right place for me to live in any longer but it will always be my hometown.”
Fans reacted to Gilbert’s revelations about her decision in the Entertainment subreddit.
“She aged beautifully,” one fan wrote.
“She looks like what a healthy older woman should look like. She’s way more attractive than these women trying desperately to cling on to their youth with cosmetic surgery,” another commented.
“Wow, she is absolutely stunning and you can tell she glows happiness and joy. I watched little house on the prairie every day after school and loved it. I’m 36f and feel the pressures of fillers and Botox and I was never even famous, so good for her,” added another fan.