- Justine Bateman was known for the cute girl Mallory Keaton from "Family Ties".
- She lost weight and is not ashamed of her wrinkles, but this caused critics of her old face.
- She has chosen motherhood and has focused on her personal life with the love of her life.
"Family Ties" was one of the most popular '80s sitcoms, and it profoundly affected the fame of all those who starred in the show. Now, the cast remained close many years after the show ended.
Although they have not starred together for decades, they remain a "family" and have often talked about what it was like to be together on set. One star, Justine Bateman, is grateful for the show and its effect on her career as she ages.
Michael Gross as Steven Keaton, Meredith Baxter as Elyse Keaton, (back, l-r) Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton, Justine Bateman as Mallory Keaton, Tina Yothers as Jennifer Keaton | Source: Getty Images
"Family Ties" is centered around a suburban family living in Ohio. The parents, named Steven and Elyse, raised their children with much laughter and freedom of spirit in the household. Michael Gross played Steven, and Meredith Baxter played Elyse.
Last year was the show's 40th anniversary, and Gross and Baxter reunited to talk about their time on the show and the chemistry they shared on the set that so many fans worldwide fell in love with.
Forty years on, and their chemistry had not dulled at all. Their chemistry helped the entire cast become a believable fictional family. Baxter and Gross played characters with very liberal views of the world.
American actors Meredith Baxter Birney and Michael Gross; sitting, left to right, American actress Justine Bateman, Canadian-born actor Michael J. Fox, and American actress Tina Yothers circa 1982 | Source: Getty Images
These views clashed with the opinions of their eldest Republican son, which made for great television. Still, Baxter does not believe fans would accept the political nature of the show today.
Regarding their on-screen parenting style, Baxter said she and Gross were lenient on-screen and had excellent writers. Yet, in reality, she did not have writers to help her parent, which made a difference with her children.
Justine Bateman as Mallory Keaton | Source: Getty Images
Gross felt similar to Baxter and said that his children had voiced the same opinion to him over the years. He divulged:
"I mean, there was one occasion, at least one occasion, where my own children said, 'Why can't you be as nice as that father on television?'"
And while Baxter and Gross had trouble with their on-screen son and his political views, their daughters were easier. Their youngest was too young to cause any actual conflict, and their middle child, played by Justine Bateman, was focused solely on fashion and boys throughout the show.
Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton, Justine Bateman as Mallory Keaton circa 1980 | Source: Getty Images
When the show wrapped in 1989, the cast felt incredibly grateful for the bonds they had formed on set and said they thought that they could always go back if ever they needed it.
Yet, all the cast members had yet to feel the need to return. They had ended on such a good note with one another that they didn't feel a reunion was necessary and instead moved on along their own paths.
Justine Bateman Doesn’t Look Like She Used To: What Happened?
After the show ended, the cast all went their separate ways. Justine Bateman, who played Mallory Keaton, faced criticism for how she is aging and presents herself to the world.
On Sunday, Bateman opened up about what it felt like to grow older in a society constantly focused on what a woman looks like as she ages. The stigma attached to her age saddens Bateman.
Bateman is 57 and has never had any cosmetic intervention, choosing instead to age naturally. In fact, she was only aware that people were interested in how she looked once she googled herself.
Yet, when she saw that the search brought up articles saying she looked old, she decided to scroll through some of them and was left confused. She said:
"I looked at the pictures they had as evidence, and I couldn't see what they were talking about ... I think my face represents who I am, and I like it."
Bateman wants other women to forget about what their face looks like and stop thinking that getting older will ruin opportunities for them. She feels her career is just beginning as she goes from actress to director. Bateman thinks her face shows who she is, and likes the way she looks.
Justine Bateman attends the "Violet" Photo Call during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 09, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario | Source: Getty Images
The actress-turned-director says that there are only two ages in her mind; alive and dead, and while one is still alive, one should do anything one wants. She believes she can do anything at any age.
Husband of 22 Years, Kids, and New Businesses: Inside Bateman's Private Life
Bateman is now married to Mark Fluent, a Managing Director and Head of Western US Real Estate for Deutsche Bank. The couple married in 2001 and lived in Los Angeles, California. They share two children; a son named Duke and a daughter named Gianetta.
Justine Bateman and daughter Gianetta during Swarovski Runway Rocks LA - Arrivals at ACE Gallery in Los Angeles, California, United States | Source: Getty Images
After her children were born, she spent much of her time at home with them and took a step back from her career. She could do so because of her husband's enormous success in his career.
When Bateman returned to her career, she experienced success in directing and even tried her hand at production, in which she excelled. She even founded her own production company and produced much of her own work.
Yet, acting, producing, and directing are not the only things Bateman does daily. She also has a clothing line of knitwear which is knitted primarily by her own hands and designed by her, too.
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