90s movie icon looks ageless over 30 years after Oscar nomination for hit film

Mary McDonnell in Battlestar Galactica
Fans thought the Battlestar Galactica star hadn’t aged a day (Picture: Sci-Fi Channel/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

Mary McDonnell, who rose to prominence for her role in the acclaimed 1990 film Dances With Wolves, hasn’t aged a day in a recent selfie.

The Hollywood star, 72, started her stage career in the 70s and 80s before making a name for herself on screen as Stands With a Fist in the epic 90s Western which secured Mary her first Oscar nomination and the film a best picture victory.

She landed her second Academy Award nomination, this time for lead actress after playing May-Alice in the 1993 movie, Passion Fish. Other notable roles have included Rose in Donnie Darko, Marilyn Whitmore in Independence Day and Sharon Raydor in The Closer.

Meanwhile, in the 00s Mary gained a large fanbase after starring as President Laura Roslin in hit sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica.

The actor recently reunited with her Battlestar Galactica co-stars to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show, posting a selfie during her plane ride to the Chicago event in which she had barely aged a day.

She posed for a smiling Instagram selfie in an LA Dodgers cap, with her long, curled grey locks grabbing attention with fans complimenting her in the comments.

Mary McDonnell posing for a selfie on an aeroplane wearing an LA Dodgers cap
The Battlestar Galactica star reunited with her co-stars at a Chicago event (Picture: @theladybam)

Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell in a scene from Battlestar Galactica
Fans praised how youthful the star appeared and drew attention to her luscious hair (Picture: Sci-Fi Channel/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

‘Gah, your hair never looks bad,’ squeak0226 commented, while others gushed over how ‘fabulous’ the star appeared in her pictures.

Queenmarymcd said she looked ‘effortlessly beautiful as always’, while many simply stated she was ‘gorgeous’ and ‘glowing’.

Last year, she scored a Critics Choice award nomination after playing the ambitious Madeline Usher in Netflix’s horror adaptation, The Fall of the House of Usher.

In May, the actor was honoured at the Gracie Award – an annual ceremony put on by the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) Foundation to recognise outstanding achievements in media created by, for, or about women.

She stunned in a one-shoulder red ballgown paired with black elbow-length gloves, chunky gold earrings and black-rimmed glasses which perfectly complemented her naturally greying hair.

Mary McDonnell now, pictured with grey hair, large black glasses and a one-shoulder orange dress
Mary was awarded for her role in The Fall of the House of Usher and impressed fans with her gorgeous red gown (Picture: Getty)

Mary McDonnell earlier in her career, with brown hair and wearing a dark red shirt
She has landed countless award nominations and wins over her career (Picture: Getty)

Mary McDonnell, with grey hair, poses with her hands on her hips while wearing a long blue dress
The 72-year-old actor is showing no signs of slowing down (Picture: OConnor-Arroyo / AFF-USA.com)

In images from the event circulated online, fans praised her looks. User @cococaprica commented: ‘So gorgeous, she ages backwards!! Just flawless!!’

‘She definitely ages beautifully and just owns it. Gorgeous,’ @ericaschriek echoed.

‘You OWN the red carpet every time!! congratulations on the Gracie!,’ @megankc.4 added.

The star regularly posts to social media, and has recently been a vocal supporter of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s bid for the US presidential office.

After such an expansive acting career, Mary remains grateful for the opportunity to play nuanced characters on screen, like matriarch Madeline as she told Awards Radar.

Mary McDonnell in character as Madeline Usher in The Fall of the House of Usher
She had nothing but praise for her character in the Netflix series created by Mike Flannigan (Picture: Netflix)

Mary McDonnell in character for a Battlestar Galactica promo
She played one of her most memorable roles in Battlestar Galactica (Picture: Sci-Fi Channel/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

‘When I met this character, I’ve never met a woman like her. I’ve never seen a woman so unabashedly and ruthlessly wield power and I’ve never seen that combined with a clear explanation of the trauma at the core of her being,’ she shared.

‘She’s an earth-scorcher for sure, but towards the end, she goes after everything that capitalism creates for women. There has never been a character like Madeline Usher, so clearly I had to play her.’

Speaking to Gold Derby at the Gracie Awards about her message to young women who are starting their careers, she said: ‘[It’s important] that they understand that the biggest, biggest gift they have is that they identify the purpose of their careers. What’s the purpose?’

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