Italian beauty Monica Bellucci proved that age was just a number in a new photoshoot that showcased her modeling prowess as well as her ageless visage.
The 62-year-old looked beautiful in a series of photos taken for Harper's Bazaar España, which included a shot of her in a figure-hugging red gown, a picture of her sitting on a chair with her long legs on full display, and a snap of her in a backless black gown with a daring thigh slit.
Monica's stance on aging
Monica got candid about aging in the spotlight in the accompanying interview, revealing that she was not afraid of growing older, but rather viewed it as "a wonderful gift".
"There's no real alternative: either you grow old and accept the process with dignity, or you die. Looking at it that way, I'd much rather grow old," she explained.
© Getty Images"Growing old means you're fortunate enough to still be alive and have a future. Besides, maturity brings with it a wonderful gift: detachment. Sometimes, as you get older, you stop being just an actress and become a spectator of the world, which makes you see everything from a different perspective."
The actress added that growing older had helped inform her work on the screen and allowed her to bring more depth to her characters.
"Bodies change over time, but what's truly important is how we change on the inside. That comes across on screen when the camera starts rolling; you can bring to life nuances of the world that you hadn't even imagined before," Monica said.
"What matters is what you feel inside. I think it's about having a rich inner life, a passion that inspires you, watching your children grow, gazing at the sea, having friends, a family you love… a fulfilling life as a woman."
Changing perspectives
© Getty ImagesThe brunette beauty shares her daughters Deva and Léonie with her ex-husband, French actor Vincent Cassel. "As the years go by, your perspective changes," the mother of two continued. "You wake up in the morning, and having your health or enjoying the aroma of coffee becomes a reason to be grateful. But that's something you only understand with time."
"I'm proud of myself and of being a woman, because femininity is the strength of humanity," Monica concluded. The former Bond girl was married to Vincent from 1999 to 2013, and moved on with famed director Tim Burton in 2022.
© Sygma via Getty Images"What I can say …I'm glad I met the man, first of all," she told Elle France in 2023. "It's one of those encounters that rarely happens in life...I know the man, I love him, and now I'm going to meet the director – another adventure begins."
The couple went their separate ways in 2025 and shared the news of their breakup via a statement. "It is with much respect and deep care for each other that Monica Bellucci and Tim Burton have decided to part ways."
