The timeless Ali MacGraw made a rare public appearance in New York City on Wednesday, proving that elegance knows no age. The Love Story actress, now 85, was spotted looking sophisticated in a black suit, her signature gray hair swept back, complemented by a classic black handbag and refined kitten heels.
MacGraw's appearance comes more than five decades after her breakthrough role in the 1970 romantic classic Love Story, where she played Jenny Cavilleri opposite Ryan O'Neal. The film catapulted her to stardom and earned her both a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Before Love Story, MacGraw had already caught Hollywood's attention with her role in Goodbye, Columbus (1969), which earned her the Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer. Her meteoric rise continued with successful films like The Getaway (1972) and Convoy (1978), followed by a memorable stint on Dynasty in 1985.
Looking back on her sudden rise to fame, MacGraw reflected candidly in a 2021 interview with PEOPLE magazine: "Suddenly I was a movie star and that's a shocking experience." She added, "I think the biggest accomplishment of my life has been that I survived [being] flavor of the year."
The actress maintained a lasting friendship with her Love Story co-star Ryan O'Neal until his passing in 2023. Their professional partnership culminated in a 2016 touring production of Love Letters, and in 2021, they were honored with adjacent stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
MacGraw's recent New York City appearance reminds us why she remains an enduring icon of American cinema, demonstrating the same grace and style that first captured audiences' hearts over half a century ago.