Donna Mills Fires Back at Critics Who Say She Wears Too Much Makeup at 85

Michelle Stein April 6, 2026, 8:43 am

What To Know

Donna Mills, 85, responded to criticism about wearing too much makeup by posting a transformation video on Instagram.
In the video, Mills confidently asserted that she likes her style and declared, “Style doesn’t have an expiration date.”
The post received widespread support and praise from fans and celebrities.

Knots Landing star Donna Mills just posted a transformation video amid criticism that she wears too much makeup for an 85-year-old.

On Saturday, April 5, the actress who played Abby Cunningham in the primetime soap opera, took to Instagram with a direct message to unsolicited comments about her appearance. She included the rude comment in an overlaid screenshot, which read, “You wear too much makeup for your age.”

“Oh, this comment, Mills said in the Reel while sporting a full face of makeup and styled hair. “I guess I didn’t get the memo.” The clip then abruptly cut to her with no makeup and her natural hair. “Did you want me to look like this?” she asked, with a laugh. “Sorry. Not sorry.”

After cutting back to her original style, Mills declared, “I like the way I look. This is my style. And style doesn’t have an expiration date, does it?

She added in the caption, “I said what I said 🤍 #style #aging #makeup #clapback #armchairwarrio.”

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A post shared by Donna Mills (@thedonnamills)

In the comments, Mills’ followers flooded her with praise and support for the expertly executed clap-back. Viola Davis exclaimed, “Wooooohoooo!!!!!👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️,” as Octavia Spencer wrote, “🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.”

The Real Housewives of Orange County star Heather Dubrow wrote, “YOU’RE AMAZING 🔥.”

Donna Mills Reveals Why She Left – and Returned – to ‘Knots Landing’

The Young and the Restless star Tracey Bregman echoed, “That’s right! You look extraordinary! But the best part is you love it and so do we 🩷🩷.”

Meanwhile, Frank Sinatra‘s daughter, Nancy Sinatra, shared, “You go girl! 💕💕,” and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards commented, “I love this so much 🩷.”

Knots Landing aired for 14 seasons from 1979 to 1993, with Mills playing Abby from 1980 to 1989 on the soap.

What do you think of Mills’ response to online criticism of her style?

Knots Landing, streaming on Tubi, The Roku Channel, and Plex