Helen Hunt | Source: Getty Images Helen Hunt | Source: Getty Images ‘What Happened to Her?’: Fans Surprised as Helen Hunt, 61, Looks ‘Completely Unrecognizable’ in Recent Selfie

Known for her role as Darcie Maguire in “What Women Want,” Hunt seemed excited for baseball season to begin. “In just a few hours, the Chicago @cubs will play my @dodgers in Tokyo in the first game of the 2025 season,” she wrote on Instagram. “Let’s go Dodgers. But my goodness, the Cubs are epic and this stadium is a work of art.”

While the post celebrated America’s sport, it quickly turned into a talking point for something else—Hunt’s appearance. Online, reactions were swift and divided. “Omgggggg what happened to her? She looks completely unrecognizable,” one person commented. Another wrote, “Her eyes look bruised.” Someone else added, “You don’t look like yourself anymore. 😢”

While some focused on changes in her appearance, others stood by Hunt, celebrating her enduring presence in Hollywood. One fan commented, “Still naturally beautiful.” Another added, “Lovely pic. You look gorgeous Helen.”

Despite the online frenzy, Hunt has long embraced a grounded and balanced lifestyle—one that may offer insight into her age-defying appearance. In a 2012 interview, the 61-year-old opened up about her approach to wellness.

At the time, she was 49 and already answering questions about how she maintained her shape. Her answer was simple: she focused on nourishment, not perfection.

“I do eat well. I try to love my body,” she shared. “That is what I tell my daughter. I say, ‘Love every bite of food. Love your body.'” Then, she added, “We’re all going to be dead soon—actually I don’t say that last thing to her.”

Hunt, a known fan of surfing and yoga, admitted she didn’t follow a strict regimen—even when preparing for vulnerable roles. Ahead of her nude scenes in “The Sessions,” she didn’t hit the gym. “I didn’t have time to get fit,” she said. “What would I have done? Gone to Pilates to get ready?”

By 2015, her wellness philosophy remained consistent. She credited her fitness to a variety: biking, hiking, and yoga. “You [have to] do a little bit of everything,” she explained.

Away from the spotlight, Helen Hunt prefers a casual and comfortable look. She often opts for sweatpants, even though those around her jokingly urge her to switch things up. She mentioned that her colleagues frequently plead with her to wear something different, asking her not to step out in yet another pair.

But even the laid-back actress enjoys the occasional glam moments on red carpets often appearing elegant in beautiful outfits. “I didn’t go to my high school prom,” she confessed, “so I try to turn those events into a prom moment.”

When it comes to beauty, her philosophy is more on self-acceptance than skincare products. “Love yourself, love yourself, love yourself,” she said. “That’s kind of the aspiration that I hope I will achieve at least by the time I get to my death bed.”

Hunt applies the same values to parenting, making a deliberate effort to limit her daughter Makena’s exposure to media and advertising. She explained that they watch very little television or commercials, as she prefers her daughter to stay focused on creative and intellectual pursuits like painting, thinking, singing, or playing the violin.

Through it all, Hunt has remained true to herself. A quiet strength, built on self-acceptance, may be the real reason behind her lasting appeal—online reactions notwithstanding. Hunt’s desire for authenticity and simplicity extends beyond her lifestyle and parenting—it also shapes her relationship with fame.

Despite achieving widespread recognition for her role in “As Good As It Gets,” she revealed that fame was never part of the dream. In fact, the attention it brought left her unsettled. Reflecting on that time, she admitted that there were a few years when she felt spooked by the paparazzi presence outside her home. “I was afraid that I could never unring that bell,” she said.

To manage the sudden glare of the spotlight, Hunt chose a path few in Hollywood take: she faded into the background. Her strategy was simple. “I just became very boring,” she said.

But Hunt is anything but dull. What she is, however, is remarkably down-to-earth. During a recent Zoom interview, she appeared on camera wearing glasses, seated casually on her bed, dinner bowl in hand. She apologized mid-conversation for eating while they spoke.

She acknowledged that some celebrities live for the constant buzz, always at the center of attention. That lifestyle, she said, isn’t for her. Laughing, she joked that after the 130th photo of her in khaki pants holding a yoga mat, the novelty—and the value—wears off.