I don't seem to understand why Bea and Rue look younger on GG than they did on Maude. Maybe it was those stiff molded 70's hairdos and funky clothing made them look older. Maybe they had some cosmetic surgery before GG. But I do think they actually look better on GG. Bea was sort of harsh looking on Maude.

My theory: better clothing and better lighting (those Norman Lear sitcoms form the 70s had very harsh lighting, which was not flattering to the actors).

Also, Bea Arthur (a very funny lady, BTW) was not particularly good looking, and sometimes people like that actually look better as they age.

I noticed that too!! It's funny lol.. They look much younger on the Golden Girls.. But I agree.. it probably was the lighting back in the 70's. If you notice Maude's lighting is darker & not as bright as the Golden Girls set!

Yes, lighting and the fact that both of them have had plastic surgery. They even did a two part show about it on Maude when both of their characters went through plastic surgery.

On all sitcoms it seems people tend to look better after years have gone by, usually the last season everyone looks way better than season one.

If you look at the golden girls season seven last episode to the golden girls season one premiere episode, the women all look way prettier, and younger, it seems they age very well. They look very ugly in the first episode i think.

like The facts of Life, charlotte rae looked hideous in season one, but looks way prettier and younger by season 8 her last appearance.


Betty White has always looked kinda the same, just a younger face. She has never really aged much.

Also, Rue was playing a much older character on Maude. They had to make her look older than she actually was. Much like Estelle Getty on the Golden Girls.

regarding the post 2 above, and the main thread. I to have noticed how the girls looked better as seasons went by. Especially Bea. She looked fabulous on the guest appearance on Golden Palace. She seems to age gracefully with her looks. Anywho. On many sitcoms i to have noticed how the characters/actors look better towards the end. From Friends, Designing Women and the Golden Girls/Palace. What I think though is its not so much they have work done, its just that with a successful show means more money, for the both the show and the actors. The show can make sure the actors look there best with better clothing, makeup, lighting, etc. And the actors look there best while using there own money with there own methods. Just what i think anyway.

Well a BIG factor was the fashion and the hair. Maude looked so matronly and grandmotherly, with those clothes and that dated, gray hair-do. And in season 1 Maude was only 47!

Well a BIG factor was the fashion and the hair. Maude looked so matronly and grandmotherly, with those clothes and that dated, gray hair-do. And in season 1 Maude was only 47!


Yeah Maude in the really strange wardrobe she wore and that grey hair! :confused:

YES! I actually noticed that as well!


Rue looked so much older in Maude AND in Mama's family. Both two looked much older in Maude than they did in the Golden Girls as well.


On Golden Girls, the make-up and hair department made them look really nice. I guess the make-up and hair on Maude was not as good as it was on The Golden Girls, PLUS the lighting and such got better in the 1980s.


I know I've seen Rue's hair looking old and messy in Maude and on Mama's family, it looked so old fashioned, but on Golden Girls it always looked nice and looked always dyed. I think there were noticeable grey hairs on Rue in Maude.

Also, Rue was playing a much older character on Maude. They had to make her look older than she actually was. Much like Estelle Getty on the Golden Girls.
No..... not sure what you're talking about.
It is often mentioned that Maude and Vivian were the same age in high school and college.

In Rue's early MAUDE appearances the makeup/hair people streaked her hair grey and gave her facial lines. She was supposed to be the same age as Maude but in real life Rue was 7 years younger than her character. In "The Love Birds" episode aired in Season Two Vivian states she is 47 when Rue was actually 40. Thankfully they quickly decided to stop aging her for the cameras since "people of the same age, age differently in real life" as was stated in an interview.