“They don’t make’em like they used to.” This is a phrase that has been applied to many things, ranging from appliances and electronics to state-of-the-art automobiles. But this saying applies to art and culture as much as it does to technology. Take the television show Bewitched, for example. In the 1960s, this enchanting show captivated audiences worldwide. And it’s fair to say that since then, there has never been another show like it!
Much of that show’s charm (magical or otherwise) came from one of its greatest stars: Erin Murphy. She played Tabitha Stephens, the daughter of the main character, Samantha Stephens. Samantha played a witch who is trying to balance a life with fantastic powers along with her life as a suburban mom. Judging by how great she still looks, though, it seems like it might be Murphy who secretly has access to magical spells!
A star is born
Younger readers may have trouble understanding why Bewitched was so popular. After all, modern television is filled with genre shows, which is how Game of Thrones became such a pop culture phenomenon. However, in the 1960s, such shows were rare. There were breakout series like Star Trek, of course. But for the most part, TV was filled with sitcoms that were much more down to Earth. Bewitched was unique because it had a foot in two worlds: it was one part family comedy and one part magical romp.
Erin Murphy played a major role in making the show so magical. She was introduced in Season 3, right when the show made the jump to color. Murphy played Tabitha Stephens, Samantha’s very young daughter. While she initially shared this acting role with her twin (Full House style), that only lasted for 18 episodes. Soon enough, Murphy was the one and only Tabitha, and Bewitched fans enjoyed watching her grow up on screen.
Still beautiful, and she knows it
Since Erin Murphy was one of the youngest stars in Bewitched, she is only 62 years old. However, you might not believe that when you see her. After all, this former child actor is always turning heads for one big reason: she seems far younger than her years! And whenever she posts a recent picture of herself, it nearly breaks the internet with comments. Some of those commenting are, of course, just huge fans who want to praise her beauty. Some, though, are much more cynical.
What do the cynical fans have to say? As you might expect, they mostly claim that Erin Murphy has had plenty of plastic surgery in order to still look so young and vibrant. To these skeptics, her beauty must be a result of “cheating” somehow. Fortunately, the actor didn’t take this criticism lying down, and she eventually clapped back at her haters in the best (or at least, most entertaining) possible way.
No magical surgery needed
Most of the criticism of Erin Murphy and other actors comes from social media. That’s no surprise, really: social media platforms like Instagram allow for both sharing images and making comments on those images. To trolls and other online haters, it’s easy to make hateful comments tearing down actors they don’t like. Unsurprisingly, most of the comments claiming that Erin Murphy received plastic surgery have come from Instagram. What was a surprise, though, was that Murphy decided to face these trolls on their home territory.
Last year, she took to Instagram to post a picture of herself that showcased her natural features. “This is 61…WITHOUT a facelift, without any makeup,” she wrote in the caption. “Not sure why so many random people on social media feel the need to speculate that I’ve had a facelift; but I haven’t. I suppose it’s a backhanded compliment that you think I look good ‘for my age.'”
Honestly? She’s right. It really is just a backhanded compliment. Fortunately, she’s discovered the truth in yet another old saying: the best revenge is living well!
What’s her skincare secret?
Erin Murphy hasn’t had plastic surgery, but she still looks fantastic for her age. That has fans all over the world asking the Bewitched star the obvious question: “What’s your secret?” Fortunately, we have the answer, and it’s something that everyone can benefit from…a killer skincare routine!
In a 2025 interview with Fox News, Murphy claimed, “It’s mostly, you know, like topical stuff. I use good skincare.” Instead of buying products that cost a small fortune, she gets some of her favorites from humble stores like Trader Joe’s. “I wash my face with jojoba oil,” she said. Murphy also extolled the value of a good facial. Ultimately, though, she wanted to emphasize that her skincare routine isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. “It’s kind of figuring out what works for your skin because everybody’s different,” she said.
Sounds good. But we wouldn’t mind a little magical assistance if we can get it!