In the late 1970s, Lynda Carter’s superpower was more than just her iconic portrayal of Wonder Woman—it was her ability to inspire millions of young girls, showing them that women, too, could be superheroes.
Nearly 50 years after earning the Wonder Woman title, Carter, now 72, continues to defy the aging process, embracing her natural, untouched beauty.
Read on to discover more about this remarkable actress!
Growing up in the 1970s, girls often felt torn between traditional roles like being housewives and breaking barriers, even though female action heroes were rare. Then along came Lynda Carter, who brought Wonder Woman to life, forever changing the landscape of female role models. Best known for her portrayal of the DC Comics superhero, Carter left an indelible mark on young girls at a time when women were just beginning to break free from societal expectations.
The series, which ran for three seasons from 1976 to 1979, made Carter a household name. Adored for her stunning beauty and the empowering message her character embodied, Carter was beloved by both women and men. She recalls in an interview with CBS that one of the show’s producers had warned her, saying, “‘Oh, women are gonna be so jealous of you.’ But I told him, ‘Not a chance. I’m not playing her that way. I want women to either want to be me or be my best friend!’”
Golden Warrior
After marrying attorney Robert Altman in the 1980s, Carter took a step back from Hollywood to raise her two children, James and Jessica, in Washington, D.C. Reflecting on this time, she shares, “Turns out my greatest adventure of all was becoming a mom. And I have loved every minute of it.”
Since then, Carter has made a few returns to the screen with roles in films like The Dukes of Hazzard (2005), Super Troopers 2 (2018), and most recently in a post-credits scene in Wonder Woman 1984, where she appeared as Asteria, the legendary Golden Warrior of the Amazons.
Speaking about her iconic role, Carter said in 2017, “Many actors want to distance themselves from a character, but I knew early on that Wonder Woman was more than just me. It would be silly to try and separate myself from the experiences people have with the character.”
Now, at 72, the former Miss USA World 1972 is also pursuing her passion for music. Her latest project, Letters from Earth, is a deeply personal love letter to her late husband, Robert Altman, who passed away in 2021 from blood cancer. The song will be available for streaming on March 15, 2024. “We had such a wonderful relationship. Losing him has been incredibly hard,” she says of her partner of nearly four decades.
Ageless Beauty
Even though Carter remains as striking as ever, she’s open about the realities of achieving a red-carpet-ready look. “That polished appearance comes from spending time with talented people doing your hair and makeup,” she tells People. “Celebrities always look amazing on the red carpet, but when you see them in real life, they’re just regular people in their everyday clothes. Everyone looks the same without all the glam!”
She emphasizes the effort it takes to achieve that picture-perfect look, adding, “If everyone had a three-hour makeover before leaving the house, they’d all look fantastic. It’s important to remember there’s a lot of work behind those photos.”
Still, when she steps out, she often turns heads, looking as fierce as the Wonder Woman she embodied in the late ’70s. “People still recognize me as Wonder Woman,” she says. “I don’t think I’ve changed all that much.”
Now approaching her 73rd birthday, Carter proudly reveals that she has avoided cosmetic procedures, opting to age naturally. “I haven’t had any facial surgery because, frankly, I’m scared. We’ve all seen some bad outcomes. I just look like myself—only older.”
Her enduring beauty and graceful aging continue to make her a real-life Wonder Woman, inspiring fans across generations.
