Felicity Kendal Remains Active and Refuses to Retire as She Celebrates 80th Birthday

Felicity Kendal, best known for her role as Barbara Good in the 1970s sitcom "The Good Life," recently celebrated her 80th birthday, showing no signs of slowing down.

Kendal, who recently signed on for a touring production of Noël Coward’s "Blithe Spirit," credits her active lifestyle and beauty regimen for her continued energy. Contrary to her character, who sought a simpler life, Kendal thrives on being busy.

"I prefer being ‘outside, walking through the open air, or at the gym, which I try to do regularly," Kendal stated earlier this year. "It’s nothing to do with looks. It’s just if I don’t stay active, I’ll fossilise. You have to keep moving at my age or you run out of energy."

She has expressed her disagreement with the notion that older individuals should lead quiet lives, telling The Telegraph, "Well, I know they’re wrong, so it doesn’t matter. People can approach ageing however they like. I prefer to be active. I’m not at all relaxed. I want more time, absolutely – written down and in a contract!"

As the sole surviving cast member of "The Good Life," Kendal has vowed never to retire, believing her passion for acting keeps her youthful. Speaking to The Lady Magazine in 2021, she reacted to questions about slowing down by saying, "Not at all! There’s a kind of relaxation in doing the work you like doing simply for the work itself. You're judged only on how you do it."

She added that the reduced competition at her age alleviates the stress she felt as a younger actress. "When you get to my age there aren't so many people left, so there's less pressure. You've passed from ingenue to leading lady and beyond. If you can be working at 17 and still working at 70-something, you've made it through."

Kendal maintains her physical fitness through a varied workout routine. "I work out three times a week, a mixture of stretching, yoga and weights. I've also mastered press-ups. I'm so pleased. Now, if I could only stand on my head," she said.

During her role in "High Society" earlier this year, she kept dumbbells in her dressing room to fit in sets during rehearsals, noting, "If I don't get to the gym, I crack," and has since increased her regime to five times a week.

Kendal has also been open about her use of Botox and other anti-aging treatments. "I do it every six months, then you don't get the terrible little frown line," she admitted.

Her consistently smooth appearance has sometimes drawn attention, leading to speculation on shows like "The Graham Norton Show." In 2023, Kendal addressed criticism, asserting that her priority is to look "presentable" rather than appear younger. She told The Times, "Do I care about what I look like at 76? Not really. I like to look presentable, as my mother used to say, but that’s good manners not vanity."

She reflected on historical grooming practices, stating, "Humans have been preening themselves for thousands of years: tattoos, corsets, the dandies with their powdered wigs." Kendal also noted that while modern times might seem more subdued in terms of appearance compared to the bold fashion of the Seventies, she believes women have the freedom to choose their style regardless of age.

"There comes a point where you have to match bits of you with the other bits," she told Good Housekeeping magazine. "Then there was a time when you'd think, I'm over 60, I can't possibly wear a short skirt again because of my crinkly knees. Then you come out the other end and say, 'f*** it, I've got good legs, I'm going to put on tights and a short skirt."