50 celebrities who are actually older than they look


50 celebrities who are actually older than they look

Nicola Coughlan (L) and Claudia Jessie (R) visit SiriusXM Studios in May 2024.

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Nicola Coughlan (L) and Claudia Jessie (R) visit SiriusXM Studios in May 2024.

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  • Some famous actors and musicians are older than you might think.
  • Nicola Coughlan is 37 but plays teenager Penelope Featherington in “Bridgerton.”
  • Here are 50 celebrities and their surprising ages.

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The world is halfway through season three of “Bridgerton,” and the internet still cannot seem to wrap its head around the fact that Nicola Coughlan, who plays lead Penelope Featherington, is 37.

Coughlan is just one of many “Bridgerton” actors who are older than their characters, and represents a common Hollywood casting phenomena wherein most “teenagers” audiences see on-screen in shows like “Euphoria” or “The Vampire Diaries” are actually in their 20s and 30s.

But it’s not just actors whose youthful looks leave audiences fooled. Here’s a look at 50 celebrities who are actually older than you thought. Someone please tell us their skincare regimens.

Anjelica Oswald contributed to an earlier version of this report.

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Nicola Coughlan, 37

Nicola Coughlan attends the Season 3 World Premiere of “Bridgerton” in 2024.

Jamie McCarthy/GA/Contributor/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images



Coughlan told Teen Vogue in April 2024 that the discourse around her age was “super funny” and that she’d “never hidden” it.

She acknowledged the conversation again, as well as the issue of ageism in Hollywood, in an interview with ETalk.

“I’m not a nepo baby, I don’t have any connection to the industry. I had to work my ass off to get to where I am and that took me this long, and I’m like, I’m really proud of that,” Coughlan said.

Claudia Jessie, 34

Claudia Jessie visits SiriusXM Studios in May 2024.

Claudia Jessie visits SiriusXM Studios in May 2024.

Santiago Felipe/Contributor/Getty Images



Coughlan isn’t the only “Bridgerton” star to play a role much younger than their real age. Claudia Jessie, 34, plays 19-year-old Eloise Bridgerton.

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Salma Hayek Pinault, 57

Salma Hayek attends the 2023 Academy Awards.

Salma Hayek Pinault.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images



The actress started her career when she was 23 and most recently starred in “Magic Mike 3.”

Gwen Stefani, 54

Gwen Stefani.

Gwen Stefani.

Taylor Hill/Getty Images



The former “The Voice” coach started her career singing lead for No Doubt, which was signed to a record contract in 1991. In 2024, she and the band reunited for a headlining set at Coachella that featured surprise guest Olivia Rodrigo.

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Jennifer Lopez, 54

Jennifer Lopez.

Jennifer Lopez.

(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)



“Jenny from the Block” got her start as a dancer on “In Living Color” in 1991 before launching successful careers in music and acting. Some of her recent projects include “This is Me… Now,” which is the name of both her ninth studio album and her self-funded movie musical, and traditional rom-coms like “Marry Me.”

Paul Rudd, 55

Paul Rudd.

Paul Rudd.

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images



From “Clueless” to the “Ant-Man” franchise, Rudd has had a prolific acting career since he started at 23.

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Christie Brinkley, 70

Christie Brinkley.

Model Christie Brinkley in 2020.

Jim Spellman/Getty Images



She started modeling in the late ’70s, and now her daughters are following in her footsteps.

Cindy Crawford, 58

Cindy Crawford.

Cindy Crawford.

Mark Davis/Getty Images for Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation



She dropped out of college where she was studying chemical engineering to start modeling in 1986. Her look-alike daughter, Kaia Gerber, is also a model.

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Keanu Reeves, 59

Keanu Reeves.

Keanu Reeves.

Jeff Kravitz / Contributor / Getty Images




From “Youngblood” and “Speed” to the “John Wick” series, Reeves has been acting for three decades and people still can’t get enough of him.

Angela Bassett, 65

Angela Bassett.

Angela Bassett attends the 2023 Academy Awards.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images



The two-time Academy Award nominee has been acting since 1986, with starring roles in films and TV shows like “What’s Love Got to Do with It” and “9-1-1.” Bassett received an honorary Oscar in 2024.

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John Cho, 51

John Cho.

John Cho.

Tara Ziemba/Getty Images



Among his best-known roles, he played Harold in the “Harold & Kumar” films.

Anna Kendrick, 38

Anna Kendrick.

Anna Kendrick.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images



Kendrick started doing theater as a child and has gone on to star in dozens of films, including the iconic “Pitch Perfect” trilogy.

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Cher, 78

Cher.

Cher.

MICHAEL TRAN/AFP/Getty Images



Cher started her singing career in the ’60s and she’s still an icon.

Candace Cameron-Bure, 48

Candace Cameron Bure.

Candace Cameron-Bure.

Paul Archuleta/Contributor/Getty Images



Her first role was on “St. Elsewhere” in 1982 before her roles in “Full House” and “Fuller House” as D.J. Tanner.

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Lori Loughlin, 59

Lori Loughlin.

Lori Loughlin.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images



Loughlin also famously appeared in “Full House” and “Fuller House” as Rebecca Donaldson Katsopolis, better known as Aunt Becky.

Halle Berry, 57

Halle Berry.

Halle Berry.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images



The former beauty queen has starred in popular films such as “Catwoman” and the “X-Men” franchise. In 2002, she became the first Black woman to win best actress at the Academy Awards for her role as Leticia Musgrove in “Monster’s Ball.”

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Gabrielle Union, 51

Gabrielle Union.

Gabrielle Union.

Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images



Union rose to fame through her roles in iconic films like “10 Things I Hate About You,” “She’s All That,” and “Bring It On.”

Jared Leto, 52

Jared Leto.

Jared Leto.

Lia Toby/Getty Images



He had his big break in the ’90s on “My So-Called Life” and won an Oscar in 2014 for his role in “Dallas Buyers Club.”

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Sofia Vergara, 51

Sofia Vergara.

Sofia Vergara.

Mario Anzuoni/Reuters



The Colombian actress went from starring in a Pepsi commercial in 1992 to gaining widespread recognition for her role in “Modern Family.”

Nina Dobrev, 35

Nina Dobrev at Revolve Festival: The Seventh Annual Fashion, Music and Lifestyle Event in 2024.

Nina Dobrev at Revolve Festival: The Seventh Annual Fashion, Music and Lifestyle Event in 2024.

Gilbert Flores/Contributor/WWD via Getty Images



There must have been something in the water on the set of “The Vampire Diaries” because none of the cast members have appeared to age in the seven years since the show ended, including Nina Dobrev, who started playing Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce when she was only 20.

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John Stamos, 60

John Stamos.

John Stamos.

Jason Merritt/Getty Images



Stamos made his acting debut on “General Hospital” in 1982, but became a household name through his role as Uncle Jesse in “Full House.”

Sandra Bullock, 59

Sandra Bullock.

Sandra Bullock.

Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images



She made her acting debut in 1987 in “Hangmen,” and has since starred in rom-coms like “The Proposal” and “Miss Congeniality.” Bullock also won an Oscar for best actress in 2009 for her role in “The Blind Side.”

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Troian Bellisario, 38

Troian Bellisario.

Troian Bellisario.

Mike Windle/Getty Images



Her breakthrough role in “Pretty Little Liars” earned her two Teen Choice Awards.

Mario Lopez, 50

Mario Lopez.

Mario Lopez.

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images



He is best known for depicting A.C. Slater on “Saved by the Bell” in the ’80s and ’90s.

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Ellen DeGeneres, 66

Ellen DeGeneres.

Ellen DeGeneres.

George Pimentel/Getty Images



While she broke out on her self-titled sitcom in 1997, she’s now widely known for her two-decades-long run as a talk show host on “The Ellen Show,” which ended in a series of controversies.

Vanna White, 67

Vanna White.

Vanna White.

Earl Gibson III/Getty Images



The “Wheel of Fortune” hostess has been on the show since 1982.

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Pharrell Williams, 51

Pharrell Williams.

Pharrell Williams.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images



The Grammy-winning producer and artist has worked with megastars including Gwen Stefani, Daft Punk, Jay-Z, Ariana Grande, and Robin Thicke. In addition to music, Williams was named creative director of menswear at Louis Vuitton in 2023.

Taraji P. Henson, 53

Taraji P. Hensen.

Taraji P. Henson.

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images



Henson made her film debut in 1998 and has since starred in a number of successful projects across film and TV like “Hidden Figures,” 2023’s “The Color Purple,” and “Empire.” For the latter, she won a Golden Globe for best actress in a television series drama in 2016.

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Mariah Carey, 55

Mariah Carey.

Mariah Carey.

Theo Wargo/Getty Images



Legendary pop and R&B singer Mariah Carey rose to fame with her self-titled album in 1990. Known for her incredible vocal range, Carey was named the fifth best singer of all-time by Rolling Stone in 2023, and of course, who could forget her iconic rendition of the holiday classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

Denzel Washington, 69

Denzel Washington.

Denzel Washington.

Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images



Washington’s award-winning career has spanned over 40 years and includes critically acclaimed projects and beloved classics like “Training Day,” “Remember the Titans,” and “Fences.” He was named the best actor of the 21st century by The New York Times in 2020.

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Alyson Hannigan, 50

Alyson Hannigan

Alyson Hannigan.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images



The “American Pie” star rose to mainstream fame while depicting Willow in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

Carly Rae Jepsen, 38

Carly Rae Jepsen.

Carly Rae Jepsen.

Gus Stewart/Getty Images



The pop star had her first viral hit, “Call Me Maybe,” in 2012. More recently, she was the voice behind the “Fuller House” theme song. 

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Andrea Barber, 47

Andrea Barber.

Andrea Barber.

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images



She started acting on “Days of Our Lives” in 1982, and she gained prominence as Kimmy Gibbler on “Full House” and “Fuller House.”

Freddie Highmore, 32

Freddie Highmore.

Freddie Highmore.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images



The “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” star won the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for best young performer in both 2005 and 2006. Highmore recently concluded his time as Shaun Murphy on ABC’s “The Good Doctor,” for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2018.

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Thomas Brodie-Sangster, 34

Thomas Brodie-Sangster in 2023.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster in 2023.

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Wheely



Brodie-Sangster has been acting for over two decades, getting his start in films like “Love Actually” and “Nanny McPhee.” In 2021, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his supporting role in “The Queen’s Gambit.”

Jim Parsons, 51

Jim Parsons.

Jim Parsons.

Christopher Polk/Getty Images



Parsons, who rose to fame as Sheldon Cooper in “The Big Bang Theory,” starred in the 2022 rom-com “Spoiler Alert.”

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Leslie Jones, 56

Leslie Jones.

Leslie Jones.

David Livingston/Getty Images



Jones joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 2014 when she was 47, and soon became a featured player on the show.

Robin Wright, 58

Robin Wright.

Robin Wright.

Antony Jones/ Getty Images



Wright’s known for starring in iconic films like “The Princess Bride” and “Forrest Gump.” More recently, she has acted in popular TV shows like “House of Cards,” and in box-office hits like “Wonder Woman” and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”

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Michelle Pfeiffer, 66

Michelle Pfeiffer.

Michelle Pfeiffer.

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images



She broke into the entertainment industry in 1982 when she starred in “Grease 2.”

Justin Hartley, 47

Justin Hartley.

Justin Hartley.

Presley Ann/Getty Images



His first role was on the soap opera “Passions” in 2002, and he has since risen to prominence for his roles on “This Is Us” and “Tracker.”

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Padma Lakshmi, 53

Padma Lakshmi.

Padma Lakshmi.

Bruce Glikas/Getty Images



Lakshmi earned 15 Emmy nominations for her time as host and executive producer of “Top Chef.” Now, she hosts and executive produces “Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi,” which highlights foods created by immigrant and indigenous communities around the US.

Katie Holmes, 45

Katie Holmes.

Katie Holmes.

Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images



Since breaking out on “Dawson’s Creek” in 1998, Holmes has starred in a number of popular films such as “Mad Money,” “Jack and Jill,” and “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark.”

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Chris Rock, 59

Chris Rock.

Chris Rock.

Craig Sjodin/Getty Images



Rock began his prolific career by doing stand-up and has won three Grammys and four Emmys for his work as a comedian and actor. In 2017, he was named the fifth best stand up comic of all time by Rolling Stone.

Lucy Liu, 55

Lucy Liu.

Lucy Liu.

NBC/Getty Images



She began her career as an actress on “Ally McBeal” in 1998. Her most recent role is as Joyce Newman in “A Man in Full.” She became the second Asian woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019, and was honored with Gold House’s Gold Legend Award in 2024.

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Jodie Sweetin, 42

Jodie Sweetin.

Jodie Sweetin.

Paul Archuleta/Getty images



Sweetin was just 5 years old when she first began starring on “Full House” as Stephanie Tanner.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 63

Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Kayla Oaddams/WireImage/Getty Images



Louis-Dreyfus began her career when she was 21 as a cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” and has gone on to star in some of the most beloved sitcoms, including “Seinfeld” and “Veep.”

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Anne Hathaway, 41

Anne Hathaway.

Anne Hathaway.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images



In 1999, she made her acting debut in the TV series “Get Real.” She’s starred in fan-favorites including “Ella Enchanted,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” and “The Princess Diaries.” In 2024, the Oscar-winning actress starred in “The Idea of You” alongside Nicholas Galitzine.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 51

Gwyneth Paltrow.

Gwyneth Paltrow.

RB/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images



Paltrow began receiving widespread recognition as an actress in the late 1990s for movies like “Sliding Doors” and “Shakespeare in Love,” but she now primarily focuses on her lifestyle brand, Goop.

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Shakira, 47

Shakira.

Shakira.

Bruce Glikas/Getty Images



Shakira is arguably best known for her 2006 hit single, “Hips Don’t Lie,” which reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard’s Top 100. In 2023, she was honored by MTV with a lifetime achievement award.

Alexa Demie, 33

Alexa Demie attends Tiffany & Co.'s celebration for the launch of the Lock Collection in 2022.

Alexa Demie attends Tiffany & Co.’s celebration for the launch of the Lock Collection in 2022.

Stefanie Keenan/Contributor/Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.



Although Demie’s age has been the subject of speculation, Complex wished the “Euphoria” star a happy 33rd birthday on December 11, 2023, meaning, if the date is correct, she’s 33.

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