Beth Broderick, who played Zelda Spellman on Sabrina The Teenage Witch, left fans stunned by her ageless appearance during a recent interview on Joseph Shepherd's Hyperfixated podcast. The 67-year-old actress was one of the most beloved stars of the late '90s and early 2000s for scores of millennials.
Viewers shared their amazement online after watching the lengthy interview. One fan wrote that they thought Martha Stewart had been drinking from the fountain of youth and looked like Broderick, while another commented that they had a crush on her when they were younger and still do. A third fan added that she will always be so beautiful, but some questioned if she had used Botox, with one writing that her whole face is frozen.
Broderick was pictured with co-stars Caroline Rhea and Melissa Joan Hart in 1998 during the height of the sitcom's popularity.
Cosmetic procedures and views on aging
Broderick has been open about using injectables to fight Father Time in her Substack blog, Beth Broderick: Wit and Wisdom for the Ages from the Aged. Alongside regular visits to an esthetician, she uses Botox and fillers.
In a 2024 blog entry, she recalled undergoing a major skin treatment years earlier. "I had a full chemical peel years ago, and I looked like hell on wheels for a month," she wrote. "When I finally recovered, my skin looked great, not a freckle to be found. Then I opened the door to let the dog out and looked up at the sky, and every damned one of them came right back."
Despite indulging in beauty treatments, Broderick stressed that it is important to embrace getting older. "We are all doing what we can, all hoping to outsmart Father Time and retain a youthful essence," she said. "That said, it is also important to enjoy getting older. Aging is a privilege not afforded to everyone. A little gratitude is in order."
Outside of acting, the Hollywood veteran has long been known for her activism supporting people with HIV/AIDS, and was pictured attending an AIDS benefit in 1988 with Jonathan Silverman.
Poolside photoshoot and fan reactions
Last year, Broderick stunned fans by showing off her bikini body during a poolside photoshoot. She captioned the images "#maturebeauty" and "#bikiniconfident".
Fans praised the photos online, with one writing that Aunt Zelda is still an absolute babe and another calling her insanely beautiful as always.
Acting career after Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Broderick played Sabrina's uptight aunt Zelda on Sabrina The Teenage Witch from 1997 to 2001. She left the show after its sixth season over creative differences and to pursue other projects.
After exiting the hit sitcom, she made guest appearances on shows such as CSI: Miami and Supernatural before landing a five-episode arc on ABC's Lost. In 2020, she reprised her role as Zelda alongside Caroline Rhea, who played Sabrina's other aunt Hilda, in Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Nate Richert on working day jobs
While Broderick continued her acting career decades after Sabrina, some of her former co-stars faced a different path. Nate Richert, who played Melissa Joan Hart's love interest Harvey Kinkle on the series, has barely acted in over 20 years.
In 2018, Richert revealed on X that he was working as a janitor, maintenance man and carpenter to pay his bills. He highlighted how difficult it is for actors to secure consistent employment.
"I'm extremely lucky to have had any success at all, let alone solid work in film and TV for six years (20 years ago)," Richert wrote. "I'm currently a maintenance man, a janitor, a carpenter and do whatever random jobs I can get to pay the bills."
Richert made it clear he is not ashamed of working regular day jobs alongside performing. "I do improv and song write to maintain my sanity," he added. "Actors so very rarely have job security or consistent work, quality healthcare, a reasonable retirement. We are actors anyway because it is who we are at the core, for the love and need to bring the words on the page to life and to make you feel them (God, I love to make you laugh)."
