Many women would dread growing older in an industry so obsessed with eternal youth, but LisaRaye McCoy said there are some great perks to being over 40 in Hollywood. The 45-year-old actress recently chatted with CocoaFab to explain how she enjoys the respect that comes with being older than the others on set.
"It shows our maturity. When you have someone that's around that has wisdom that demands and has respect automatically. And so even my set, even Single Ladies, when I walk on the set, I feel like I'm bringing all my experience to the table and that's status and that's to be respected," she says. "You see me here, you see me there, bop, bop, bop! I do that deliberately, because I don't care to just work and grind all the time, I like to play a lot. I like to be leisure. So I feel good and the show helps me, because everyone on the show is in their 30s and I feel it! But for VH1 to say to me, 'No! We want you in the midst of the other two girls and on this show …' it's telling the audience that's 40, that's 50 that's watching the show, 'Yeah, you can look like this too! You can hang too!' So I get a lot of older women that go, 'Girl, you giving those 30-year-olds a run for they money!' And my answer is like, 'Yes, I am!'
It's nice to hear her be so positive about maturing and it's an outlook that the former first lady of Turks and Caicos extends past her work life.
"I think I'm just in a more thankful and appreciative place in life. Just knowing that I want to let go of the reins and let God tell me where to go. I'm tired. I'm like, 'You know what? I've been trying to do this thing myself, let me give you a shot at it; let me see what you got to bring to the table,' and it's just been wonderful. It's been less stress and you just walk lighter. I need to be lighter."
Single Ladies, starring LisaRaye McCoy, Charity Shea and Denise Vasi, is due to return Fall 2013 on VH1.
BET.com always gives you the latest fashion and beauty trends, tips and news. We are committed to bringing you the best of Black lifestyle and celebrity culture. 
Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

(Photo: Maury Phillips/Getty Images For A+E Networks)