‘The Thorn Birds’ actress Meghan Cleary claps back at criticism

Rachel Ward is letting the negative comments fly away.

The actress, who starred as Meghan ‘Meggie’ Cleary in the “Thorn Birds,” runs a beef cattle farm with husband Bryan Brown, 78, in Australia.

The couple first met on the 1983 miniseries, and Ward, 68, has continued to share glimpses of their life on Instagram over the years.

During the holidays, the “Against All Odds” star went viral after fans flooded her comments section saying that she looked older than her age.

Now, Ward is clapping back at the internet trolls.

“Dear those of you who responded to the brouhaha over the trolls criticizing my appearance, I have tried to do a little better today. I ran my hands through my hair, etc. but anyways, just to say, do not fear aging,” she said in a Thursday Instagram video.

“It’s a wonderful period of life, in your 60s. I am more fulfilled than ever and I have no regrets, leaving my youth and beauty behind,” Ward added. “I’m not youthful, but I am a very happy camper. Later years are to be exalted and welcomed. You wait until you get there. They have so many other gifts to bestow that you have no idea what they are until you get there.”

“Don’t worry about me. I do recognize that we’re all a little bit worried about losing our youth and resorting to rather drastic ways of holding on to it, but let it go,” she concluded.

“Overwhelmed by the generosity that poured forth after a few fearful trolls went on the attack of my rather unkempt appearance before Christmas,” the “Fortress” actress captioned the post. “I’m a farmer now but really should do my hair and apply some lippy before I go on social media. Apologies for frightening a few of you.”

Ward then took the time to raise awareness for her farm, writing, “I would crawl under a rock but very keen to promote my new initiative @Farmthru_ where you can buy Delicious regen steaks, chooks, eggs, pork and lamb at a curb side hub in the Northern Beaches. Check it out and support farmers who balance both land, animal and your health. Wait until you taste the difference. Bulk buy prices.”

Fans quickly took to the comments to praise the star.

“STILL one of the most beautiful women in the world. Period,” one follower wrote, while a second chimed in, “You are as gorgeous as you’ve always been !”

“You are beautiful ♥️,” a third social media user said, while another person added: “Aging is an honour and a privilege that not everyone gets to experience, and you are doing it with such grace. ❤️.”

Rounding out the sweet messages, a fan shared: “Dear Rachel, on behalf of all the 60- 70+ women who are flourishing in our maturity, not giving a jot about our wrinkles and grey hair, may I say, you have articulated perfectly the joy of aging gracefully.”

“It’s a privilege to age whilst maintaining good health and fitness of mind body and soul. Young women please take note, aging is a sheer delight that’s impossible to imagine until you get here.”

Along with running their farm, Ward and Brown celebrated 40 years of marriage in 2023 and share three children: Rosie, Matilda and Joe.

The actor previously opened up about the key to their decades-long union, telling The Mirror, “The main thing is to say yes to your wife all the time, and if anything goes wrong say, ‘It’s my fault.’ If men understood that, they’d be happier.”

The pair first met while playing husband and wife in “Thorn Birds.”

During their time on set, he Brown gave Ward a palm reading that predicted she would have three children.

As the “Cocktail” star put it: “Yes, I did say that, but I didn’t say they would be mine!”

This past April, Ward paid tribute to her and Brown’s “Thorn Birds” co-star, Richard Chamberlain, who died at age 90 in March of complications following a stroke.

“Goodbye Father Ralph. Thanks for choosing me to play Meggie,” Ward captioned her post, which included a sweet shot from the show. “There are only a few people you come across in a lifetime that change the direction of your life. You were one of them and a lovely bloke to boot.”