Melissa Gilbert is the most recent actress to discuss the challenges of aging on women. She is all too familiar with these expectations, having grown up as the child star of Little House on the Prairie at age nine.
At age 57, she embraces the privilege of aging rather than conforming to societal expectations for women.
Gilbert, whose new book Back to the Prairie: A Home Remade, A Life Discovered will be released on May 10, says that she experienced a midlife revelation when she was “trapped in the cycle of trying to stay youthful.”
“I eventually woke up and asked myself, ‘What am I doing?'” she told People. “I resemble a carrot top, and I am unhappy.” Gilbert was more concerned with the opinions of those in the entertainment world than with her well-being.
“My mentality was, ‘You must be skinny. It would help if you were seen in the proper locations, wear the proper footwear, and drive the proper automobile,'” she said. “This was ingrained in me by all external pressures. However, it never sat well.”
Gilbert chose to make a significant shift once she wed her third husband, Timothy Busfield, in 2013 and left Los Angeles.
She stated, “I shaved off all my hair and stopped using Botox and all that other nonsense.” The nicest aspect of her decision is that her happiness emanates from inside.
Gilbert is proud to age gracefully in a manner that works best for her, so she is no longer “pushing too hard to fit the mold that someone else intended.” She stated, “I’m now comfortable in my flesh.” “I am extremely appreciative, relieved, and content.”
Melissa Gilbert Biography:
May 8 is Melissa Gilbert’s birthday; therefore, she was born on the west coast in Los Angeles. She began her acting career as a kid in commercials and television programs.
Laura Ingalls Wilder washes clothes in “Little House on the Prairie” for a decade, beginning in 1974 and ending in 1983. As a child and adolescent performer, she performed in various television programs.
Gilbert’s subsequent roles included “The Lookalike,” “Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story,” “Cries from the Heart,” and “The Soul Collector.”
In addition to Sylvester, she also starred in Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife, Killer Instinct, Without Her Consent, Forbidden Nights, and Hollywood Wives: The New Generation.
She portrayed Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in “Batman: The Animated Series” from 1992 to 1994, and she portrayed Kate Delacroy in “Sweet Justice” from 1994 to 1995.
In 2012, Gilbert was eliminated from “Dancing with the Stars” during the eighth week of the competition.
In 1980, she was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award for her work in “The Miracle Worker” and “Little House on the Prairie” as the main actress in a limited series or special.
In 2011, she was awarded two Young Artist Awards in recognition of her contributions to the prestigious program.
Gilbert served as SAG president from 2001 until 2005, at which point she opted not to seek reelection. In her 2009 book, “Prairie Tale,” Gilbert discusses her fight with alcohol and drug addiction.
Melissa Gilbert’s Private Life:
Numerous celebrities have been romantically linked to Gilbert, such as Rob Lowe, Billy Idol, John Cusack, and Scott Baio. A year after her marriage to actor Bo Brinkman in 1988, she gave birth to the couple’s son. Gilbert and Brinkman separated in 1992.
Actor Bruce Boxleitner was her spouse from 1995 to 2011. The actor Timothy Busfield has been her spouse since 2013.
Melissa Gilbert Drug Involvement:
Her 2009 autobiography, “Prairie Tale: A Memoir,” describes her difficulties with drug and alcohol addiction and her sexual reliance on men.
After passing out drunk on the dog bed after dinner with a buddy and revealing this on “Today,” her drinking issue became clear. The assistance of a therapist and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions assisted her in overcoming her addiction.
Melissa Gilbert Career
Melissa Gilbert was a talented actor and performer from a young age.
Gilbert’s early acting career began with advertisements for ‘Alpo dog food’ with Lorne Greene, thanks to her parents’ professional experience and affiliation with Hollywood.
Gilbert won the role of Laura Ingalls, one of Charles Ingalls’ (played by Micahel Landon) daughters, in the NBC series ‘Little House on the Prairie’ after competing with over 500 other youngsters for the part.
She attended the same school as Leslie, daughter of Landon, who notified her of her selection as Laura.
Jonathan, the brother of Gilbert, was cast in the series as Willie Oleson. 1973 was the year of production, and the series ran from 1974 through 1983. The period play proved immensely popular, and Gilbert quickly captured the attention of spectators.
Although her primary occupation was on television, Gilbert continued to work in feature films. She portrayed Jean Donovan in ‘Choices of the Heart’ in 1983.
She starred in ‘The Miracle Worker in 1979, ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ in 1980, ‘Splendor in the Grass’ in 1981, and ‘Choices of the Heart’ in 1983.
Gradually, she transitioned to adult parts (‘Choices’ in 1986 and ‘A Family of Strangers’ in 1993).
She voiced ‘Batgirl’ in ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ throughout the 1990s.
In 1996, Gilbert appeared in three episodes of Babylon 5 as Anna Sheridan with her husband, Bruce Boxleitner.
With ‘Little House: A New Beginning’ in 1982, ‘Stand By Your Man’ in 1992, and ‘Sweet Justice’ in 1994, Gilbert also experienced failure.
In the 2006 television series ‘Nip/Tuck,’ Gilbert portrayed Shari Noble, a patient who desired reconstruction of her breasts.
During the 2008-2009 season, Gilbert portrayed Caroline “Ma” Ingalls in Francesca Zambello’s musical adaption of “Little House on the Prairie.” The world premiere performance was held at the Minneapolis Guthrie Theater.
The national tour of the United States began in 2009 and concluded in June 2010 at the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Her autobiography, “A Prairie Tale: A Memoir,” was published in 2009.
Gilbert appeared in ‘The Christmas Pageant’ in 2011.
In 2012, Gilbert demonstrated her dancing abilities in the fourteenth season of “Dancing with the Stars.” She was Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s partner on the show. She competed against television personality Sherri Shepherd, tennis player Martina Navratilova, and singer Gladys Knight.
On her birthday, she was ousted from the competition on the eighth episode of the show.
Melissa Gilbert declared her candidacy for the 2016 elections to the United States House of Representatives from Michigan’s 8th congressional district on August 10, 2015. However, she subsequently withdrew from the race due to her spine injury-related health concerns.
She is also a director and producer. Half-Pint Productions is the name of her production company.