Malin Akerman on Overcoming Her ‘People-Pleaser’ Tendencies and Feeling ‘Powerful’ in Her 40s (Exclusive)
- - Malin Akerman on Overcoming Her ‘People-Pleaser’ Tendencies and Feeling ‘Powerful’ in Her 40s (Exclusive)
Toria Sheffield, Daniela AvilaNovember 9, 2025 at 6:30 AM
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Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Malin Akerman on Oct. 29, 2025 -
Malin Akerman told PEOPLE at Variety’s Power of Women event that being in her 40s makes her feel “powerful”
The 47-year-old actress also shared that age has helped her overcome her past “people-pleaser” tendencies
“Support your fellow ladies, because if you do we can rule the whole freaking world — so you know, be an ally,” she added
Malin Akerman is here for her 40s.
Speaking with PEOPLE exclusively at Variety’s Power of Women event at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Oct. 29, the actress, 47, shared that her current decade of life feels empowering.
“Being in my 40s makes me feel powerful, you know? Life lessons [and] wisdom that only comes with years of experience,” she says.
She added that getting older has also helped her overcome her past “people-pleaser” tendencies.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Malin Akerman at 'Variety's' Power of Women 2025 in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Oct. 29, 2025
“Growing up, I was such a people pleaser and said yes to many, many things and didn't know how to set boundaries, and I think setting boundaries and standing in my own power and knowing that I'm worth it has really been a great lesson,” she explains.
The Hunting Wives star went on to reveal one of her biggest pieces of advice to other women: Support one another.
“Support your fellow ladies, because if you do we can rule the whole freaking world — so you know, be an ally,” she says.
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She also said she’s learned that “the people you surround yourself with” can have a tremendously positive impact on your self confidence.
Ackerman previously opened up about a time when she and fellow Hunting Wives costar Brittany Snow, 39, empowered one another on set, specifically during a particularly intimate and vulnerable scene.
"Before our very first intimate scene together, there was a lot of nerves and we're so used to dissecting our own bodies and looking in the mirror and finding all the things that were wrong with our bodies and it's terrible," she said while speaking at the She Sees Me: The Power of Female Friendship (in Life and Art) event in October.
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Malin Akerman and Brittany Snow in 'The Hunting Wives' (2025)
She added, "And we saw it in each other firsthand as we were like, 'Oh my God.' "
"I just went, 'Britt, you know what? We're f------ beautiful. We've worked hard for these bodies. We've worked hard our whole lives and you're a beautiful f------ person and let's not do this,' " she said, adding, "'Let's just go out there and have a great time — as much as you can with all these cameramen. It's a weird time, but let's just be in it together and let's support each other right now and let's just feel great about ourselves and let's just, I look at you and you're beautiful, and let's celebrate our bodies right now,' " she continued.
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Akerman ultimately called the moment "beautiful," during the panel, noting that the show’s specific cast and crew has been key to the supportive on-set environment, as well as the overall success of the series.
"This set specifically has been so — it's been so important to have these relationships work [off screen] because of the intimacy of the relationships on screen," she said.
"I think that it shines through that there is this baseline, there's this support group between every take, and everyone just wants everyone to win,” she added.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
