The A24 stars open up about time, gratitude, and the gift of growing older

Redefining Aging Through an Afterlife Story

December 8, 2025: Elizabeth Olsen and Da’Vine Joy Randolph are using the success of A24’s afterlife drama Eternity to spark a deeper conversation—one about perspective, presence, and the often-overlooked privilege of aging. As the film continues to resonate with audiences for its emotional and philosophical undertones, both actors say the project encouraged them to reevaluate how aging is framed in Hollywood and in life.

An Afterlife Film Rooted in the Present

Eternity explores life, loss, and what comes after, but Olsen and Randolph emphasize that the film is ultimately about how people choose to live now. By confronting mortality and the passage of time so directly, the story reframes aging not as decline, but as continuation—something both actors say feels especially rare in contemporary cinema.

The film’s themes pushed them to consider how often society fears aging instead of honoring it.

“Aging Is a Privilege”

Both Olsen and Randolph have spoken about viewing aging as a kind of quiet achievement—one not afforded to everyone. Randolph, in particular, described growing older as a gift that brings clarity, confidence, and a deeper understanding of self. Rather than striving to remain frozen in time, she highlighted the power that comes with experience and lived perspective.

Olsen echoed the sentiment, noting that each stage of life comes with its own form of freedom, especially when artists allow themselves to evolve instead of chasing expectations tied to youth.

Challenging Hollywood’s Obsessions

The conversation also touched on Hollywood’s long-standing obsession with youth, especially for women. Olsen acknowledged that the industry often equates relevance with age, creating pressure to maintain a narrow version of desirability. Randolph added that projects like Eternity help challenge those assumptions by allowing women to exist fully—emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually—at every stage of life.

HOLR has the latest news on how more filmmakers and actors are pushing back against age-driven narratives in film and television.

Finding Power in Time

For Randolph, aging has meant becoming more grounded and less apologetic. She described how experience has sharpened her instincts and strengthened her voice—both on and off screen. Olsen shared a similar perspective, explaining that time has helped her trust her choices and release the need for external validation.

Together, they framed aging not as something to resist, but as something that deepens artistry and humanity.

Why Eternity Sparked This Conversation

Because Eternity deals so directly with impermanence, it naturally opens space for reflection on time itself. The actors believe that engaging with such material invites audiences—and artists—to rethink fears associated with growing older, replacing them with appreciation.

The film’s emotional weight, they say, lies not in the afterlife, but in the reminder to value the life being lived.

A Broader Cultural Shift

Olsen and Randolph’s reflections arrive amid a broader cultural moment where aging is being reassessed, particularly by women who are reclaiming visibility, agency, and narrative control. Their willingness to speak openly adds nuance to a topic often framed through avoidance rather than acceptance.

HOLR notes that conversations like these mark a meaningful shift in how aging is discussed within entertainment spaces.

Looking Forward With Intention

As Eternity continues to reach new audiences, Olsen and Randolph hope its message encourages people to see aging differently—not as a loss, but as continued becoming. For both actors, the privilege of aging is rooted in gratitude: for time, for growth, and for the chance to keep evolving.

In reframing the passage of time as something precious rather than fearful, their words resonate far beyond the screen—turning Eternity into a reflection not just on what comes after life, but on how fully we choose to live it.