Raquel Welch Looked 'Unrecognizable' in Her Final Photos Months before Death - She Was 'Totally' Afraid of Aging

• The Hollywood sex symbol and "One Million Years B.C." star Raquel Welch died at 82 in February 2023.

• She looked "unrecognizable" months before her death and spoke out about being afraid of aging.

• Raquel Welch revealed the regrets she had in life.

Raquel Welch, the actress and sex symbol, passed away at the age of 82. Her manager, Steve Sauer, indicated that she died peacefully after being ill for a short time. Raquel was a highly successful actress who became known for her roles in the 1966 films "Fantastic Voyage" and "One Million Years B.C."

After making it big in 1966, she went on to star in numerous films and became one of the most sought-after actresses in the business. In 1973, Raquel won a Golden Globe for her performance in "The Three Musketeers," and she appeared on an episode of "The Cher Show" in 1975.

Needless to say, the actress turned countless heads throughout the years. She had a long and impressive acting career that spanned over 50 years and included film and television. Later in life, she also started a highly successful line of wigs.

Aging was something that truly scared Raquel.

Raquel opened up about her life, saying she always worked hard. She knew success wouldn't be handed to her on a silver platter, so she put in the effort and the time needed to make something of herself. She started acting in 1960 and had her big break only six years later.

The actress kept working well after she started aging. Although she was best known for films like "Legally Blonde," she starred in another role in 2017 at the age of 77. One of her last movies was "How to Be a Latin Lover." However, aging became a problem for Raquel over time.

Known for her striking looks, Raquel was open about her fear of aging. The actress stated on multiple occasions that she despised growing older and losing her good looks. As time moved on and her youthfulness faded, she had to deal with the process of aging.

After seeing her out in public for the first time in years, fans took to social media to comment on her looks. Many didn't believe it was the actress, saying she looked so different than when she was younger.

Users refused to believe they were seeing the same Raquel as they did on screen. Some commented on the amount of weight she had gained, wondering whether it was due to some medication.

Why Was Raquel Welch Afraid of Aging and How Did She Look Before Her Passing?

Aging was something that truly scared Raquel. The actress noted that she was "totally" afraid growing older. She thought aging would bring about the end of her career, mentioning, "To be an aging sex symbol is not exactly a picnic. If you're called old, you feel like it's over."

Despite the fear of growing older, Raquel truly enjoyed being 40. However, the actress mentioned that things started going downhill when she hit menopause. When it set in, the actress experienced mood swings, a lack of energy, and deep depression. She admitted that she would often lie on the floor crying.

That said, Welch found ways to cope with her fear and aging. Hormone treatments helped alleviate the adverse effects of menopause, while introspection and coming to terms with her past helped her meet the new era of her life head-on. In her last days, she had fun laughing at the notion of a sex icon. She said:

"But if you can't have fun as an ageing sex symbol when you hit 60, I don't know what will become of you."

In her heyday, she already realized that being a sex icon was slightly funny. She noted, "Then you pass a mirror, and you say, 'Uh-oh, that face ain't gonna launch a thousand ships, and that bod's not so hot either.' Nobody can be the most beautiful girl in the world. It's just fairy-tale time."

In her last days, Raquel looked strikingly different. The aging actress was last seen in public in 2022 when she visited a hair and nail salon to get her nails touched up. She wore a straw hat, a white shirt, black pants, and gold hooped earrings.

Raquel looked much different than in her youth, and a fan commented on Facebook after seeing her during her last days, "Sad- but that's how she looked recently?? 😳😱 Unrecognizable."

What Did Raquel Say About Her Life and Regrets?

Over the course of her life, Raquel invested a lot of time in raising a family. She was married four times, first to her high school sweetheart, James Welch, whose name she kept. The pair had two children together, Damon Welch and Latanne "Tahnee" Welch.

Despite the numerous heartbreaks, Raquel enjoyed what she did.

Damon was born on November 6, 1959. He was seen with his mom on several occasions, however, their relationship apparently turned slightly sour after Damon's marriage to Rebecca Trueman. Similarly, Raquel didn't have the best relationship with her daughter, Tahnee.

The actress admitted that her career often kept her from spending time with her children, which eventually drove them apart. Finally, though, the actress realized she needed to face the problem head-on and work to be more present in her children's lives.

Sadly, all of Raquel's marriages ended in divorce. Although she tried her best to make them last, it seemed they always fizzled out after a few years. However, Raquel did comment on her marriage with her first husband, James, admitting she wished it had worked out:

"I regret that I didn't give that marriage more of a chance."

Despite the numerous heartbreaks, Raquel enjoyed what she did. She wanted to be an actress since she was seven and credited her parents for encouraging her to follow her dreams. In the end, she loved what she did, saying, "I've had a great life."