Sue Johnston frightened by young women having cosmetic surgery: Its so upsetting

Sue Johnston has spoke out against young women having cosmetic surgery, saying how its desperate and so upsetting.

The 74-year-old actress, famous for roles in The Royle Family and Waking The Dead, is set to star in new BBC drama Age Before Beauty – which revolves around a family-run beauty salon in the heart of Manchester.

Speaking in a Q&A session, Sue revealed how she hoped the show would help push the idea of beauty in all shapes and ages, pushing back against the trends of young women having cosmetic surgery.

To see young girls in their twenties with their lips pumped up, actually hurts me, Sue said.

I think, what will they do when they get to my age? Will they get there? Its strange, the way they must be looking at their faces.

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Its desperate and upsetting and if this can make them take a step back and look… from the sixties onwards, it all started then; to be thin, to be what you look like, and this weight thing, and then that led to eating disorders which havent improved, its just got worse.

She added: So anything that can be done to say, be yourself, love yourself, you are a human being and theres beauty in that. Dont think that just because you have your lips pumped up or your tits pumped up, that youre going to be accepted and lifes going to be good. It aint. Lifes hard and youve got to learn to be strong really.

But oh god does it frighten me.

Co-star Lisa Riley, who plays Tina Regan, similarly fears for the next generation who have grown up comparing one another on social media.

I think nowadays it has to stop that we keep looking at people face on, Lisa said.

We have to look at social media and programmes which are portraying something treacherous, especially for the next generation. Hopefully with this show theyll realise that you dont have to be that. In the likes of getting a partner, this will show that you can just be yourself.

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You know, if youre 18 and someones saying to you, “go and get your eyes done”, its absolutely abhorrent. It is a fear for the next generation and I feel it massively.

Age Before Beauty starts Tuesday 31 July on BBC One at 9pm.

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