Remember '90s Star Lori Petty? Here's What She Looks Like Now

Unlike other '90s icons with their shiny long hair and polished makeup, Lori Petty of "Point Break" and "Free Willy" fame was in a league of her own. And in a society with an obsession with how celebs look, Petty never bothered ascribing to Hollywood's beauty standards. In her own words, it wasn't a priority for her ever. "I never wanted to be a bombshell; I wanted to be an actor," she bluntly stated in a 2014 Daily Beast interview. And in this 2024 photoshoot for The Observer, we see that Petty has never stopped being unapologetically herself.

Donning a pair of shattered shades and a casual hoodie and shirt combo, the "Tank Girl" star is as bold and beautiful as she's always been. Her hair was styled in a pixie cut for the shoot, and it seems she's one of the many celebs who have embraced their natural gray hair. However, despite not being on the same level of fame as she was in the '90s, she's been part of notable shows like "Orange Is the New Black" and "Station Eleven." And we're glad to see her still remain active in Hollywood, especially after going through a tough period in her career. 

Although Lori Petty undoubtedly made a name for herself in major productions like "A League of Their Own," the phone wasn't always ringing to offer her roles. In fact, she hit a roadblock in her career after the release of "Tank Girl." And according to Petty herself, it's all because she didn't fit the aesthetic mold of what Hollywood wanted. What's more, she was honest with directors about her not being willing to change her appearance to squeeze into a character.

"I always used to tell [casting directors], 'If you want the girl next door, go next door, that's where she lives, cos I'm not her,'" Petty shared with The Guardian, before admitting, "So it's kind of my fault." But during the lull in her career, Petty tried her hand in directing, which resulted in 2008's "The Poker House". The latter was based on Petty's own traumatic childhood and won her a nomination for the Los Angeles Film Festival's Best Narrative Feature Award. 

Still, throughout the ups and downs of her career, Petty maintained a positive outlook on life, recognizing how fortunate she'd been. "I'm highly blessed and highly favored," she told Bustle in 2022. And with her most recent role being a recurring one in "NCIS: Origins", we can only hope to see more of Petty in future projects.