Olivia Williams Says Menopause Has Affected Her Memory, Explains Why She Avoids Plastic Surgery

Actress Olivia Williams, 58, is speaking openly about the effects of menopause and the pressure actors face to alter their appearance as they age.

Williams, known for her role in “The Crown,” discussed the subject in an exclusive interview with Page Six at the premiere of “The Good Daughter” on Tuesday.

She said menopause has affected her memory, particularly when it comes to remembering names. “I forgot someone’s name, which is a recognized condition in my world,” Williams said. “Can’t remember names, used to be quite good and now I can’t.”

Williams also addressed the industry pressure to pursue cosmetic procedures, and why she has chosen not to.

“You feel the pressure, but that stuff is usually said behind closed doors,” she said. “Every working day begins with an hour in front of a mirror; you have to sit and look at yourself in the makeup chair, and if you can’t deal with that, then you’re headed to the surgeon.”

Williams, who also starred in “The Sixth Sense,” spoke about her work on the new Peacock miniseries “The Good Daughter,” based on Karin Slaughter’s 2017 bestselling novel. The series stars Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy as sisters Samantha and Charlotte, who are still reckoning with a violent attack on their family 20 years earlier. A new investigation forces them to confront long-hidden family secrets.

Williams praised the production for being largely driven by women. “The community of the cast and the community of the crew was really extraordinary,” she said. “We had a woman director, a woman director of photography, a woman AV, a woman writer; it’s a story about women.”

She added, with a laugh, that the all-female creative team delivered. “It was interesting to be on a women-driven project, and it got made!” Williams said. “And we didn’t just all talk about our nails! Women can get stuff done!”

Page Six also spoke with Slaughter, whose novels have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. She credited her readers for allowing her to take creative chances in her writing.

“It’s a gift,” Slaughter said. “I’m very aware of my fan base and how loyal they’ve been to me. It’s given me the freedom to make choices in my writing that I don’t think I would have made otherwise.”