This month, actress and stand-up comedian Roseanne Barr celebrated turning 71, and what an amazing 71 years she has had!

Between her extensive on-screen career and the challenges she faced due to controversial comments, Roseanne has had her fair share of ups and downs.

Road to fame

In the late 1980s, Barr rose to megastar after portraying Roseanne Conner in ABC’s sitcom Roseanne. The idea for the popular series came when the producers of The Cosby Show wanted to do “no-perks family comedy.” They hired writer Matt Williams, and he based the script on some factory workers and the story evolved around a fat, blue-collar couple and their children.

When Roseanne premiered in 1998, the first episode was watched by 21 million households – the best debut that year.

But the main character was not happy when she saw the first episode. In fact, she was pretty frustrated. For it was then that Roseanne discovered that writer Matt Williams had been credited as the “creator” of the entire series.

“We built the show around my actual life and my kids. The ‘domestic goddess’, the whole thing,” Barr said.

The conflict with Williams would rage on for several years. Roseanne wanted more control over the script – sometimes, she refused to say certain lines; other times she just walked off stage. It went so far that Roseanne threatened to quit if Williams was not replaced.

Since Barr was the show’s big star, she eventually got what she wanted. Other writers replaced Williams after the thirteenth episode.

Perhaps it was the right decision. After all, Roseanne was a real success and would go on to last for ten seasons. In addition, Barr won several awards, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

Racial controversy

In more recent years, Barr encountered a significant setback when a racist tweet, comparing former President Barack Obama’s advisor Valerie Jarrett to an ape, led to the cancellation of her show.

Despite being an open supporter of former President Donald Trump, Barr attributed her inappropriate joke to bad health and emotional imbalance, expressing regret for the misstep, per People. In the aftermath, she faced intense backlash and retreated from the public eye for several weeks. Responding to the criticism, Barr publicly apologized, and wrote that she’d be leaving the social media platform.

Her show, Roseanne, ended up being canceled as a result of the backlash, and behind the scenes she went on an immense personal transformation – both professionally and personally.

Roseanne Barr’s transformation

Post-cancellation, Barr found solace and companionship in her partner, John Argent, a writer and producer. The couple chose not to rush into marriage, instead focusing on building a life together, with Barr calling Argent her “life partner.” They bought a picturesque Hawaiian home with a macadamia nut farm, and often post about it on social media.

Barr shared glimpses of her Hawaiian home, revealing a renovated three-bedroom residence on 46 acres of land. The kitchen, featuring wooden cabinets and stainless steel appliances, reflects the couple’s unique style.

The comedian’s journey also included a significant transformation in her physical health. Overcoming challenges that led her to hit 350 pounds in the 1990s, Barr underwent gastric bypass surgery in 1998, shedding 80 pounds. Now, she is much slimmer and “feeling good!”

After losing so much weight, Barr had significant excess skin, which she had removed following a tummy tuck. Now, she’s committed to a healthier lifestyle involving being more active and maintaining a balanced diet.

Amid these changes, one of the things that Barr is most proud of is being a grandmother to six grandchildren.

What do you think of her stunning transformation? Let us know in the comments!