Once regarded as the most beautiful woman in Hollywood, Ali MacGraw was the shining example of classic elegance and timeless beauty. Her face graced countless magazine covers, and her smile lit up the silver screen, capturing the hearts of fans around the world. Fast forward to today, at 86 years old, she has changed so much that many would hardly recognize her. The passage of time has transformed her appearance, but her legacy as a Hollywood icon remains undeniable.
Recently, Ali MacGraw was spotted walking the sunny streets of New York City, 55 years after her breakthrough role in Love Story. On February 12, 2025, she looked stunning in a sleek black suit, carrying a simple black handbag and wearing elegant kitten heels. Her striking gray hair was swept back in a graceful style, projecting both confidence and timeless charm. It’s truly remarkable to consider that over half a century has passed since MacGraw rose to fame starring in romantic films like Goodbye, Columbus in 1969 and Love Story in 1970.
At 30 years old, Ali MacGraw was considered a late bloomer in the film industry, especially when compared to most actresses who began their careers in their teens or early twenties. She made her movie debut in the adaptation of Philip Roth’s novel Goodbye, Columbus, a role that earned her the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer. Then, in 1970, she took on the role that would define her career: Jenny Cavilleri, a working-class college student who falls in love with wealthy classmate Oliver Barrett IV, played by Ryan O’Neal, in Love Story. The film was both a commercial success and a critical darling. MacGraw’s performance earned her a second Golden Globe and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1971.
Love Story went on to become one of the highest-grossing romantic films ever made and remains a classic of the genre to this day. Its influence is still felt in popular culture, and in 2021, Paramount+ announced plans to develop a series based on the film, underscoring its enduring appeal. Despite often being parodied for its melodramatic moments—who could forget the famous line, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry,” or the image of MacGraw’s character on her deathbed, still looking impeccably beautiful?—the movie’s iconic status is unquestionable. It launched Ali MacGraw into Hollywood’s A-list and made her one of the most popular actresses of her era.
Born Elizabeth Alice MacGraw in 1939, Ali’s journey into acting was quite unusual. Unlike most of her contemporaries, she didn’t start her acting career as a teenager but instead entered the film world at age 30. In a recent New York Times interview, MacGraw reflected on the whirlwind nature of her rise to fame, saying, “Looking back, it seems so strange that—overnight, at 30—I became a ‘movie star.’ I’m relieved I got out of that often exciting, often terrifying decade alive. I’d been working since I was 14, but I hadn’t gone to school for acting. I was chosen to be in Goodbye, Columbus, and then everything exploded with the stupefying surprise of Love Story—this cost-nothing project nobody expected to be a success.”
After a celebrated career in the 1970s, MacGraw gradually stepped away from acting during the 1990s, choosing to focus on her personal life and other interests. Though she no longer appears frequently on screen, her influence and impact remain firmly rooted in Hollywood history. Today, as she ages gracefully, she no longer fits the youthful Hollywood image she once embodied, but her legacy as a symbol of beauty, talent, and classic cinema endures. Ali MacGraw’s story is not just one of stunning looks but of resilience, a remarkable career, and a lasting mark on the entertainment world.
At 86, she may be unrecognizable to some, but for those who remember her work and the era she helped define, Ali MacGraw remains an unforgettable icon who changed the face of Hollywood forever.
