Post by sparklingblue on Jan 14, 2004 15:52:30 GMT -5
Is six years a longer time in politics?
The Scotsman
Julia Horton
WHEN he came to power in 1997 Tony Blair had all the makings of a political Peter Pan. At just 43 he was Britain’s youngest Prime Minister for nearly 200 years. And whether you loved him or loathed him, he exuded the enthusiasm and vitality of a man quite literally in his prime.
But the stresses and strains of leading the country have clearly taken their toll. If a week in politics is a long time, it seems a week as Prime Minister is even longer. The war in Iraq can only have increased Blair’s stress levels as he led Britain into conflict amidst widespread opposition and controversy.
A heart scare only served to reduce his "fighting fit" image last year as he adjusted to the reality of hitting 50.
His eyes, which once sparkled, now look a little glazed, his brow is increasingly furrowed and that famous grin is ever more taut. And as he himself admitted during an interview with David Frost at the weekend, the weight of criticism directed at him was taking its toll. "Probably I do show the fatigue when it is there. This is a job where a thousand people are kicking your backside morning, noon and night, so it is not surprising really."
So is it the stress of leading the country that has aged Blair - or is it just that time of life when age catches up with everyone? How have other famous people coped with advancing age in the last six years?
According to Edinburgh psychologist Dr David Weeks, it’s definitely stress that’s affected Blair. "He started out as ‘Bambi’ when they said he was baby-faced and attractive to women. He was able to bring his youthful appearance into the equation," he says. "Recently, however, he’s been showing signs of extending himself too far. The weight of his responsibilities is beginning to show. The fact that people are not agreeing with him and he's having to battle. It all adds to the stress."
London-based anti-ageing specialist Dr Lynette Yong says: "Stress used to be a valuable tool to kick-start adrenaline. Unfortunately, stress is now at near constant levels and our bodies accept daily levels of adrenaline. The stress hormones it triggers are very ageing."
Living next door to the Blairs seems much less stressful. At 51, Chancellor Gordon Brown appears younger than Blair, having retained his boyish looks and dark hair. While he may have gained a little weight, becoming a father has done little to reduce his youthfulness.
Similarly, being James Bond has done little to age Pierce Brosnan. The 51-year-old actor has hardly aged a jot since he starred in the first of three Bond movies in the late 90s.
Leading a Premiership football team might be a more stressful and important job than being PM according to some, and it’s true that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson appears slightly more careworn over the years. But those run-ins with David Beckham don’t seem to have taken a huge toll on the 62-year-old Scot.
Mistress of reinvention Madonna, 45, has undoubtedly changed in her look, but it is predominantly self-inflicted thanks to her intensive workout regime which appears to have given her looks a harder edge. But she remains glamorous as she continues her chameleon-like career.
And the years have been kind to Scots rocker Rod Stewart, 59, who seems to have changed little, only his hair losing some of its peroxide tint. Model girlfriend Penny Lancaster, 32, could be the key to his youthfulness.
Actress Dame Helen Mirren, 58, stripped off for the hit film Calendar Girls, proving that she seems to be improving with age, while fellow actress Emma Thompson, 44, is also ageing gracefully and retains her sparkle as she copes with the demands of motherhood.
Twiggy, the famously skinny Sixties supermodel, is now 54. And it is hard to see any change at all. Not only are there few wrinkles she still has her super-slim figure. Modelling and acting, then, are not too stressful.
Meanwhile, Margaret Thatcher, older than Blair is now when she came to power, at 53, is now 78. The stress of leading the country through a war and the miners’ strike only seemed to change her hair colour while she was at No 10. Apparently, the Iron Lady was not for ageing . . .
***
The Scotsman
Julia Horton
WHEN he came to power in 1997 Tony Blair had all the makings of a political Peter Pan. At just 43 he was Britain’s youngest Prime Minister for nearly 200 years. And whether you loved him or loathed him, he exuded the enthusiasm and vitality of a man quite literally in his prime.
But the stresses and strains of leading the country have clearly taken their toll. If a week in politics is a long time, it seems a week as Prime Minister is even longer. The war in Iraq can only have increased Blair’s stress levels as he led Britain into conflict amidst widespread opposition and controversy.
A heart scare only served to reduce his "fighting fit" image last year as he adjusted to the reality of hitting 50.
His eyes, which once sparkled, now look a little glazed, his brow is increasingly furrowed and that famous grin is ever more taut. And as he himself admitted during an interview with David Frost at the weekend, the weight of criticism directed at him was taking its toll. "Probably I do show the fatigue when it is there. This is a job where a thousand people are kicking your backside morning, noon and night, so it is not surprising really."
So is it the stress of leading the country that has aged Blair - or is it just that time of life when age catches up with everyone? How have other famous people coped with advancing age in the last six years?
According to Edinburgh psychologist Dr David Weeks, it’s definitely stress that’s affected Blair. "He started out as ‘Bambi’ when they said he was baby-faced and attractive to women. He was able to bring his youthful appearance into the equation," he says. "Recently, however, he’s been showing signs of extending himself too far. The weight of his responsibilities is beginning to show. The fact that people are not agreeing with him and he's having to battle. It all adds to the stress."
London-based anti-ageing specialist Dr Lynette Yong says: "Stress used to be a valuable tool to kick-start adrenaline. Unfortunately, stress is now at near constant levels and our bodies accept daily levels of adrenaline. The stress hormones it triggers are very ageing."
Living next door to the Blairs seems much less stressful. At 51, Chancellor Gordon Brown appears younger than Blair, having retained his boyish looks and dark hair. While he may have gained a little weight, becoming a father has done little to reduce his youthfulness.
Similarly, being James Bond has done little to age Pierce Brosnan. The 51-year-old actor has hardly aged a jot since he starred in the first of three Bond movies in the late 90s.
Leading a Premiership football team might be a more stressful and important job than being PM according to some, and it’s true that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson appears slightly more careworn over the years. But those run-ins with David Beckham don’t seem to have taken a huge toll on the 62-year-old Scot.
Mistress of reinvention Madonna, 45, has undoubtedly changed in her look, but it is predominantly self-inflicted thanks to her intensive workout regime which appears to have given her looks a harder edge. But she remains glamorous as she continues her chameleon-like career.
And the years have been kind to Scots rocker Rod Stewart, 59, who seems to have changed little, only his hair losing some of its peroxide tint. Model girlfriend Penny Lancaster, 32, could be the key to his youthfulness.
Actress Dame Helen Mirren, 58, stripped off for the hit film Calendar Girls, proving that she seems to be improving with age, while fellow actress Emma Thompson, 44, is also ageing gracefully and retains her sparkle as she copes with the demands of motherhood.
Twiggy, the famously skinny Sixties supermodel, is now 54. And it is hard to see any change at all. Not only are there few wrinkles she still has her super-slim figure. Modelling and acting, then, are not too stressful.
Meanwhile, Margaret Thatcher, older than Blair is now when she came to power, at 53, is now 78. The stress of leading the country through a war and the miners’ strike only seemed to change her hair colour while she was at No 10. Apparently, the Iron Lady was not for ageing . . .
***
And shucks, Pierce has been at the spy business a LOT longer than the Prime Minister and the Presidents have been at theirs, not to mention how long JAMES BOND has been sleuthing around the world. Oh yeah!