Celebs You’ll Never Believe Are Over 40
Age can surprise you in entertainment, especially when stars stay active across film, TV, music, and business. These well known names have decades of work behind them, yet they continue to lead projects, launch brands, and earn honors that keep them in the spotlight.
Here are twenty celebrities who are well past 40 and still building impressive resumes. You will find birth details, current ages, and a quick look at the achievements and ventures that keep each of them busy today.
Paul Rudd
Paul Rudd was born April 6 1969 and is now 56 years old. He first grabbed attention in ‘Clueless’ and later appeared in ‘Friends’ as Mike Hannigan. He plays Scott Lang in ‘Ant Man’ and the larger Marvel films and has also worked in comedies like ‘Anchorman’ and ‘I Love You Man’.
He grew up in Kansas and frequently returns for the Big Slick charity weekend that raises money for a children’s hospital. Outside acting he co owns Samuel’s Sweet Shop in Rhinebeck New York with fellow actors and continues to produce and star in both studio and indie projects.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves was born September 2 1964 in Beirut and is 61 years old. His standout roles include ‘Speed’ ‘The Matrix’ series and ‘John Wick’. He has worked steadily across action drama and animation and often performs many of his own action sequences.
He co founded Arch Motorcycle which builds custom performance motorcycles and he also plays with the band Dogstar. Reeves has a long running production partnership and supports a range of charities connected to cancer research and children’s hospitals.
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams was born April 5 1973 and is 52 years old. He rose to fame as a producer with The Neptunes and as frontman of N E R D then became a solo artist with hits like ‘Happy’. He collaborated on global tracks such as ‘Get Lucky’ and has produced for a wide list of artists.
He is the men’s creative director at Louis Vuitton and co founded Billionaire Boys Club and Icecream. His education focused nonprofit YELLOW supports learning opportunities for kids and he continues to work across music fashion and design.
Jared Leto
Jared Leto was born December 26 1971 and is 53 years old. He won an Academy Award for ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ and starred in films like ‘Requiem for a Dream’ and ‘House of Gucci’. He also fronts the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars and directs many of its videos.
Leto invests in technology companies and has directed under the name Bartholomew Cubbins. In recent years he headlined ‘Morbius’ and continues to take on music tours while developing new screen projects.
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union was born October 29 1972 and is 52 years old. She broke through with ‘Bring It On’ and led the series ‘Being Mary Jane’. Her film work includes ‘Bad Boys II’ and many drama and comedy roles.
She co founded the hair care brand Flawless by GU and is part of the ownership group of Angel City FC. Union is a bestselling author and an advocate for survivors and families through ongoing philanthropic work.
SofÃa Vergara
SofÃa Vergara was born July 10 1972 in Barranquilla and is 53 years old. She became one of TV’s highest paid stars with ‘Modern Family’ and later joined ‘America’s Got Talent’ as a judge. She recently portrayed Griselda Blanco in ‘Griselda’.
Her business efforts include Sofia Jeans at Walmart eyewear lines and a sun care brand called Toty. Vergara also supports health causes including cancer research and uses her platform to promote Latino entrepreneurship.
Padma Lakshmi
Padma Lakshmi was born September 1 1970 and is 55 years old. She hosted ‘Top Chef’ for many seasons and created the travel and food series ‘Taste the Nation’. She has written cookbooks and a memoir and earned notable awards in food media.
Lakshmi co founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America to raise awareness and improve care. She is a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador and continues to produce culinary and cultural programming.
Halle Berry
Halle Berry was born August 14 1966 and is 59 years old. She won the Academy Award for ‘Monster’s Ball’ and has led major franchises including ‘X Men’ and ‘John Wick’. She has experience in both action and drama and moved into directing with ‘Bruised’.
Berry launched the wellness venture rē spin and collaborates with fitness and nutrition partners. She supports organizations that combat domestic violence and works with programs focused on families and children.
John Cho
John Cho was born June 16 1972 and is 53 years old. He became widely known through ‘Harold and Kumar’ then joined the ‘Star Trek’ films and headlined the thriller ‘Searching’. He has worked in independent cinema and television including ‘Cowboy Bebop’.
Cho is also an author with a middle grade novel titled ‘Troublemaker’. He continues to champion Asian American representation and takes on roles across film streaming series and voice work.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Priyanka Chopra Jonas was born July 18 1982 and is 43 years old. She won Miss World and built a major career in Hindi cinema with films like ‘Fashion’ and ‘Bajirao Mastani’. In the United States she starred in ‘Quantico’ and action drama ‘Citadel’.
She runs the production company Purple Pebble Pictures and works as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Chopra Jonas is active in tech and consumer investments and often supports education and health initiatives for children.
Chris Evans
Chris Evans was born June 13 1981 and is 44 years old. He portrayed Steve Rogers in ‘Captain America’ and the ensemble ‘Avengers’ films and earned strong notices in ‘Knives Out’ and ‘Snowpiercer’. He has moved between action thrillers and character driven projects.
Evans co founded A Starting Point which creates short nonpartisan videos from public officials. He continues to produce and act while supporting organizations that aid children and veterans.
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron was born August 7 1975 and is 50 years old. She won an Academy Award for ‘Monster’ and later starred in action hits like ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and ‘Atomic Blonde’. She appears in the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise as Cipher and leads the action fantasy ‘The Old Guard’.
Theron founded the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project which supports youth programs in southern Africa. She produces through her company and remains active in campaigns that address gender based violence and health access.
Idris Elba
Idris Elba was born September 6 1972 and is 52 years old. He headlined the series ‘Luther’ and earned wide recognition for ‘The Wire’. His film work includes ‘Mandela Long Walk to Freedom’ and roles in action and fantasy franchises.
Elba is also a musician and DJ under the name Big Driis and runs the label 7Wallace Music. He develops film and TV projects as a producer and supports creative industry training for young people in the UK.
Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek was born September 2 1966 and is 59 years old. She starred in ‘Desperado’ and earned an Academy Award nomination for ‘Frida’. Her recent credits include ‘Eternals’ and ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’.
Hayek produces through Ventanarosa and supports the Kering Foundation which combats violence against women. She also champions vaccination and education initiatives across Latin America and beyond.
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman was born October 12 1968 and is 56 years old. He became globally known as Wolverine in ‘X Men’ and has led films like ‘The Greatest Showman’ and ‘Les Misérables’. He also maintains an active stage career and has hosted major award shows.
Jackman co founded Laughing Man Coffee which supports community development projects. He continues to balance film musical theater and philanthropy with a focus on health and education.
Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria was born March 15 1975 and is 50 years old. She gained worldwide fame with ‘Desperate Housewives’ and later moved into directing and producing across film and television. Her feature directorial debut ‘Flamin Hot’ brought her behind the camera on a widely viewed biographical story.
Longoria founded the Eva Longoria Foundation which advances education and entrepreneurship for Latinas. She works with consumer brands in food and spirits and remains active in advocacy focused on voting rights and small business growth.
Penélope Cruz
Penélope Cruz was born April 28 1974 and is 51 years old. She won an Academy Award for ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ and earned acclaim for ‘Volver’ and ‘Parallel Mothers’. Her career spans Spanish language cinema and international productions.
Cruz collaborates frequently with top directors and serves as a fashion ambassador for luxury houses. She supports pediatric research charities and continues to take on roles in both auteur films and mainstream releases.
Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch was born July 19 1976 and is 49 years old. He reached global audiences with ‘Sherlock’ then joined the Marvel universe in ‘Doctor Strange’. He received an Academy Award nomination for ‘The Imitation Game’ and works across film stage and radio.
He co founded the production company SunnyMarch and backs literacy and arts education causes. Cumberbatch trained at LAMDA and continues to appear in prestige drama while producing new projects for film and television.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman was born June 9 1981 and is 44 years old. She won an Academy Award for ‘Black Swan’ and starred in ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Thor’. Her recent work includes festival titles and limited series along with bestselling children’s books.
Portman graduated from Harvard in psychology and has produced through MountainA and Handsomecharlie Films. She is a UN Women advocate and supports initiatives that promote science education and equal opportunity.
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway was born November 12 1982 and is 42 years old. She won an Academy Award for ‘Les Misérables’ and starred in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ and ‘Interstellar’. She works in both studio films and independent dramas and has added producing credits to her slate.
Hathaway is a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador focusing on paid leave and caregiving policy. She continues to collaborate with emerging directors and supports fundraising for children’s health and arts programs.
Share your picks in the comments and tell us which over 40 star surprised you the most.