Ali MacGraw from 'Love Story' Is a Granny: She Stuns in Floral Dress at 83 after She Chose Private Life in Little Town

• Ali MacGraw became well known for her role as Jennifer Cavalleri in "Love story," but her life is different now.
• She began leading a sheltered life, focusing on her family and personal desires.
• At 83, she is a doting grandmother to her only grandchild.

Ali MacGraw was a stylist and photographer's assistant when she was asked to feature in a Chanel print advert. A movie executive saw her and cast her in "Goodbye, Columbus" in 1969, and her next movie was "Love Story," where she starred alongside Ryan O'Neal as Jennifer Cavalleri.

The actress went on to appear on many publication covers like Harper's Bazaar and Time and was nominated for an Academy Award. Despite calling her overnight success a blessing, she said she was sorry she wasn't prepared to do the quality work.

Ali received criticism in her later acting roles for being inexperienced. The star married Robert Evans, a producer, and lived a full but lonely life in Hollywood, even after giving birth to their son, Joshua "Josh" Evans.

She later left her husband for her "The Getaway" co-star, Steve McQueen, whom she revealed didn't want her to work. The actress quit Hollywood and focused on caring for her child.

Ali had been divorced thrice by 1985, with relationships that didn't work, and she was unhappy. The celebrity booked herself into the Betty Ford Clinic and gave up men and wine for a year, confessing:

"My stay there was the most terrifying and life-changing experience I've ever had."

She said she started feeling a sense of order and underlying peace that she'd sought forever after coming from a background that was a bit rough. The actress and her younger brother, Richard Jr.'s parents, Richard Sr. and Frances MacGraw, wished to live in the country but didn't have the money for it.

They shared a house with an older couple on a Pound Ridge wilderness preserve. The star recalled how "horrible" the experience was as the house didn't have doors, and her family had to share the bathroom and kitchen with the couple, leaving them no privacy.

When Robert died in October 2019 at age 89, his ex-wife said she and their son would "miss Bob tremendously." She also noted their pride in his contribution to the movie industry and said he'd be remembered as " a giant."

Although the actress only had one child, he was able to bless her by adding to their family. However, Ali moved away from the life of glitz and glamor and lived more privately.

Ali Is a Doting Grandmother: What's Happening with Her after Moving to a Small Town?

In 2022, it was revealed that Ali, then 83, started her day by waking up when the sun came out. She fed her pets and then took a walk near her Tesuque, New Mexico home, with her explaining that the latter was a form of meditation.

The actress spent 45 minutes giving gratitude for all she had. Despite living far away from Hollywood, the mother of one was comfortable and had traveled long to get there and out of the public eye, with her admitting:

"I don't want to be hip anymore — thank God!"

Ali shared that she took time to find her self-esteem from within, as she thought she was only someone if someone else looked at her. The celebrity's permanent move to New Mexico soothed her soul.

What she loved about the place was that there were adult women who didn't walk around wearing the latest fashion and weren't fearful of going gray. The actress has since allowed her gray hair to grow out.

She was now surrounded by a close circle of friends, devoted her time to animal welfare causes, and occasionally went on dates. A friend also revealed how she gardened, painted, wrote, and practiced meditation and yoga daily.

Ali shared that she didn't plan on returning to acting on the stage or making movies. However, in 2016 she and O'Neal performed "Love Letters" during a crisscross country trip, with her noting how it was heaven to reunite with him, but acting wouldn't be a part of her life again.

The star now lived in a small community with causes she could assist with. The celebrity moved to her cottage decades ago after she figured that a 1993 fire at her Malibu home was a sign that she needed to move from Hollywood physically.

Ali confessed that she had to stop herself from bringing more strays to her home! In December 2010, Joshua made her grandmother when he welcomed his son, Jackson, whom he shared with his current wife, Roxy Saint.

Besides all the other things the actress did, she also designed and produced a collection of women's wear. The star said she was at an age where active rage didn't suit her, but she had many causes which she loved the authenticity and heart of.

Ali noted how being a mother and a grandmother was one of the "hardest of jobs," and she related to the women worldwide who were trying to make money to assist their families. On March 21, 2023, BienAbye, the fashion impact brand, shared an Instagram photo that featured the actress.

In the photo, the last one in the reel, the celebrity appeared next to the first woman on the left, wearing a gorgeous white and pink outfit while holding flowers. Ali looked elegant and happy as she smiled at the camera, and fans saw her live again in 2020.

Ali Reunites with Ryan as "Love Story" Turns 50: They Are Still Close

In 2020, Ali reunited again with O'Neal to celebrate "Love Story's" 50th anniversary. He thought the five decades had gone by quickly and joked that he didn't even have that type of relationship with his wives!

The two stars became famous and intertwined because of the movie, which brought audiences to tears. For Ali, she started crying and even thought she was crazy when she read Erich Segal's book, which the movie was based on.

That same year in April, he [Ryan O'Neal] uploaded another image of him standing and talking to the actress [Ali MacGraw].

However, how the book moved her made her keen to play the part of Cavalleri. O'Neal was moved to tears while watching Ali's deathbed performance on the film set, but the actress once shared that they didn't have anything in common when they met.

Ali described him as a child from California who was an athletic movie star, but he joked that they had to drag him away from her when they met! The two "just clicked" at one point, and for its 50th anniversary, the film's limited edition Blu-ray was restored and released.

On February 12, 2021, the two actors received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. O'Neal described their bond, saying, "Sometimes you are just kissed with luck, and that's what happened for Ali and I."

The actors saw each other outside of work, like in 2018 when O'Neal shared an Instagram photo of him and Ali having a Halloween lunch with two other people in Malibu. That same year in April, he uploaded another image of him standing and talking to the actress.

Someone who replied to the post was surprised to see the pair together and was thrilled that they'd "kept up their friendships." O'Neal revealed in his caption that he and Ali were out for his birthday brunch.

Subscribe to AmoMama on Google News!