The great thing about getting older is that you can really come into your own as an actor. Your face, a map of all the years you’ve lived, tells more stories than a dozen character actors combined. And in Hollywood, where youth is usually a commodity for the women, there’s something rewarding about seeing the greatest actresses of our time mature and thrive in an industry that once dismissed them.
It’s also weirdly comforting to see these actresses hit milestones that have nothing to do with their careers. It’s like running into an old friend on the street and being reminded of how much time has passed since you’ve last spoken. You suddenly remember all those years gone by and wonder where they’ve gone.
It’s funny how we sometimes take aging for granted, especially when it comes to celebrities, but we’re here to celebrate it. Below are eight of our favorite female actors who turn 50 this year.
1. Viola Davis (August 11)
2. Helen Mirren (July 26)
3. Michelle Pfeiffer (April 29)
4. Kate Winslet (October 5)
5. Nicole Kidman (June 20)
6. Sandra Bullock (July 26)
7. Laura San Giacomo (November 14
I’m turning 50 today. And so are many of the actresses who have dominated Hollywood for the past decade. The following actresses all turn 50 this year, and their careers have much in common:
1. Sandra Bullock
2. Julia Roberts
3. Halle Berry
4. Jennifer Aniston
5. Sarah Jessica Parker
6. Kate Hudson
7. Naomi Watts
8. Nicole Kidman
Jodie Foster (born November 19, 1962) is turning 50 this year. Her first role was in the 1976 movie Taxi Driver and she has since appeared in over 40 different films. Some of her most memorable roles include The Silence of the Lambs, Panic Room and the romantic mystery, Flightplan. She has won two Academy Awards for Best Actress.
Meg Ryan (born November 19, 1961) is famous for her romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. She began acting in small television roles in 1981 and her first big film role was in Top Gun in 1986. She has been nominated for three Golden Globes and one Academy Award.
Michelle Pfeiffer (born April 29, 1958) has been nominated for three Academy Awards and six Golden Globes. One of her most notable roles was as Catwoman in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns opposite Michael Keaton as Batman. Pfeiffer began acting on television before making the move to film with a small part in Grease 2 in 1982.
Susan Sarandon (born October 4, 1946) began acting on Broadway in 1970 before moving into film roles including Pretty Baby and Dead Man Walking. Sarandon has been nominated for five Academy Awards and six Golden Globes winning
The past year was not a kind one for female actors, who faced a series of disappointments and controversies. With the notable exception of Brie Larson, 2016 saw few breakout performances by women. This is, in part, because the industry is still male-dominated: according to The New York Times, only four percent of the top 100 films released in 2017 were directed by women.
This year’s female actors may have to wait a bit longer for their Hollywood moment. As for the actresses on this list, they have all made their mark on the film industry in recent years. Some have become household names; others are still working their way up.
8. Salma Hayek
In the mid-’90s, there was no hotter Latina star than Salma Hayek. She had gained a lot of attention by starring in the Mexican soap opera “Teresa,” and the actress soon caught Hollywood’s attention as well. After a few small parts in movies like “Desperado” and “Fled,” Hayek made her big move to the United States with Robert Rodriguez’s “From Dusk Till Dawn.” She then landed parts in some major films such as “Wild Wild West,” “Dogma” and most crucially, 1999’s “Dogma”
It was her turn as Frida Kahlo in 2002’s biopic that made her a household name, however. The film earned her an Academy Award nomination, along with many other nominations from various awards bodies. Nowadays, she can be seen alongside John Lithgow on TV’s “Beatriz at Dinner.”
Actor, producer and director Angelina Jolie has been a household name for 20 years as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. She has been nominated for six Academy Awards, winning one for her role in Girl, Interrupted. Jolie has also won three Golden Globes including one for her starring role in the 2010 film The Tourist. The actress made headlines in May 2016 when she filed for divorce from fellow A-list actor Brad Pitt after two years of marriage. She was previously married to actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton.
Alicia Silvestone turned heads playing Cher Horowitz in 1995’s Clueless. The actress went on to star in the teen movies Excess Baggage and Batman & Robin before landing a starring role on the TV drama The Lot. In 2009 she played Bree Hodge on Desperate Housewives, and later starred in Suburgatory, American Woman and Candace Against the Universe.
Actress Minnie Driver got her start on stage at age 13 with the British National Youth Theatre. She went on to star opposite Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting and appeared on TV shows like Will & Grace and Modern Family. In 2016 she starred as Fiona Wallice on NBC’s About a Boy, along with roles in Speechless, Speech
1. Kirsten Dunst
She’s been acting since she was three years old and she has one of the most iconic performances in the history of cinema under her belt with “Interview With The Vampire.” She’s had a lot of highs and lows, but Kirsten Dunst is still one of the most beloved actresses in Hollywood. Her role in “Marie Antoinette” made her an indie darling and paved way for other quirky roles in “The Virgin Suicides,” “Little Women” and “Bring It On.” She also gained recognition for her comedic chops with roles in “Get Over It,” “Wimbledon” and “Bachelorette,” which she also executive produced. Of course, she’s best known as Mary Jane Watson in Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” trilogy. Unfortunately, after that, she took a hiatus from acting while battling depression and substance abuse. Thankfully, Dunst returned to the spotlight a few years ago with “Melancholia.” She has since starred in films like “Bachelorette,” “Upside Down,” “Hidden Figures,” “The Beguiled” and TV series like
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