If you’ve recently seen a re-run of Beaches or caught a late-night screening of Black Swan, you’ve probably asked yourself: how old is actress Barbara Hershey? It’s a natural question. Hershey has one of those faces that seems to shift and adapt to every decade she works in. She’s been a flower child, a leading lady, a terrifying mother, and a regal queen.
Honestly, she's older than most people realize, mostly because her career has been so insanely long.
As of right now, in early 2026, Barbara Hershey is 77 years old. She was born on February 5, 1948, in Hollywood, California. Since her birthday is just around the corner, she’ll be turning 78 in just a couple of weeks.
Growing up in the literal shadow of the film industry, Hershey—born Barbara Lynn Herzstein—didn't take long to find her way onto a set. She was only 17 when she landed a role in the TV series Gidget. Imagine being a teenager in the mid-60s and working alongside Sally Field. That's a hell of a start.
The Mystery Behind the Name and the "Seagull" Era
One thing that confuses people when looking at her age and history is that weird period in the 70s. You might see some old credits where she isn’t listed as Barbara Hershey at all. For a few years, she went by Barbara Seagull.
It sounds like a classic Hollywood eccentric move, but the story is actually kind of sad. While filming the 1969 movie Last Summer, a seagull was accidentally killed during a scene. Hershey felt a deep, spiritual connection to the bird and changed her name as a tribute.
💡 You might also like: Ozzy Osbourne Younger Years: The Brutal Truth About Growing Up in Aston
She was in her early 20s then.
The industry didn't really "get" it. Producers hated it. In fact, she reportedly had to give up $25,000 of her salary just to keep the name "Seagull" on the credits of one film. Eventually, by the time she hit her 30s, she dropped the bird name and went back to Hershey. It was probably a smart move for her longevity in the business.
Why Barbara Hershey Still Matters in Her 70s
It is rare for an actress to stay relevant for over six decades. Most people "age out" of Hollywood by 40, which is tragic and unfair, but Hershey basically ignored that rule.
Look at the range here:
- The 80s Powerhouse: She won back-to-back Best Actress awards at Cannes in 1987 and 1988 for Shy People and A World Apart. No other American actress had done that. She was in her late 30s and early 40s, hitting a peak most people never touch.
- The Horror Pivot: In her 60s, she terrified everyone as the overbearing mother in Black Swan (2010). Then she jumped into the Insidious franchise.
- Television Royalty: Fans of Once Upon a Time know her as Cora, the Queen of Hearts. She brought a certain gravity to that role that made the fantasy world feel real.
She’s always been an "11th-hour actress," as she once put it. She often gets called for roles at the last minute—like The Right Stuff, where she only had five days' notice. Maybe that’s why she always feels so present and raw on screen. There’s no time for overthinking.
📖 Related: Noah Schnapp: Why the Stranger Things Star is Making Everyone Talk Right Now
Breaking Down the Decades
To really understand the timeline of her life, you have to see how her age intersected with the culture of the time.
In the 1960s, she was the "it girl" in things like With Six You Get Eggroll. By the 1970s, she was living a somewhat bohemian life with David Carradine. They had a son together whom they named "Free" (he later changed it to Tom, which is probably a lot easier at the DMV). This was her experimental phase.
The 1980s were when she became a "serious" actress. She worked with Scorsese on The Last Temptation of Christ and Woody Allen in Hannah and Her Sisters.
Now, in the 2020s, she’s still working. She recently appeared in the horror film The Manor (2021) and the thriller 9 Bullets (2022). She doesn't seem interested in the whole "retired legend" thing. She just wants to act.
Setting the Record Straight on the "Hershey" Name
A common misconception—and I get why people think this—is that she’s related to the chocolate family. She isn't.
👉 See also: Nina Yankovic Explained: What Weird Al’s Daughter Is Doing Now
Actually, there is a new movie about the Hershey chocolate company coming out later this year (2026) starring Finn Wittrock and Alexandra Daddario. People are searching for the name "Hershey" more than ever right now because of that film. But Barbara’s stage name was just something she picked early on, long before she became the icon she is today.
What’s Next for Barbara?
If you're following her career now, keep an eye on the prestige TV circuit. At 77, she has that "elder statesman" energy that casting directors crave for complex, slightly dark roles.
She has a couple of projects rumored to be in development for late 2026. Even as she approaches 80, she remains one of the most unpredictable performers in Hollywood. She never quite does what you expect her to do.
If you want to catch up on her best work, don't just stick to the hits. Go back and find The Stunt Man (1980). She’s incredible in it, and it captures that transition from her youth into the powerhouse she became. Or, if you want something more recent, her performance in Black Swan is basically a masterclass in how to steal a movie without being the lead.
Key Takeaways for Fans:
- Current Age: 77 (born Feb 5, 1948).
- Career Length: 60+ years.
- Best Entry Point: Beaches for the tears, Black Swan for the chills.
- Fact Check: No, she’s not the chocolate heiress.
To see her most recent work, check your local streaming listings for The Manor or keep an eye out for her guest spots on major network dramas, where she continues to show up and out-act people half her age.