Celebs Who Are Much Older Than You Thought

Have you ever looked at a celebrity and wondered his or her age...only to be floored when you learned the truth? Some celebs carry their age remarkably well. It can lead to confusion when a star gets cast in roles seemingly "too young" for them. It can cause heated debates over if and how much cosmetic work the star may have had done. Whatever the case, these celebs can cause quite a stir every now and then when the public finds out just how many birthday candles are on their cakes.

We're so used to seeing Samuel L. Jackson being a badass on-screen that age rarely crosses our minds. How many of you knew Jackson is just shy of 70? That's right, he'll turn 69 in 2017. Even The Guardian admitted that people tend to assume the actor is "about 15 years younger than he really is. It's the hair, probably, or the absence of it...No steady progression from dark to grey to white means the [aging] process seems almost to have halted itself."

When Marisa Tomei landed the role of Aunt May in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), there was some initial backlash from fans who said she was too young and too hot to play the part. The movie makers even poked fun at the hate, via an interaction between Aunt May and Ironman/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in Captain America: Civil War (2016). In the scene, Stark tells Parker, "It's so hard for me to believe that she's someone's aunt," to which May responds, "Well, we come in all shapes and sizes, you know?" It's worth noting that Tom Holland, the actor playing Spider-Man/Peter Parker, is more than 30 years younger than Tomei, so objectively speaking, this sensible age gap does make her casting as Parker's adoptive aunt a little less offensive. It also speaks volumes about just how well Tomei, who turns 53 in 2017, has aged over the years.

Thanks to Ellen DeGeneres' energetic approach to social media and pop culture, fans of the comedienne and daytime talk show host may be stunned to learn that she blew out 59 candles on her birthday cake in 2017. In fact, it's DeGeneres' hipness, kindness, and dedication to all things viral that continues to help her break down barriers for gay men and women. It's awesome to think that the Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient is enjoying even more success and popularity now than she was in her younger years.

Actor and rock star Jared Leto could easily pass for at least a decade younger than he actually is. While the rock star lifestyle has been known to speed up the aging process, Leto's lifestyle choices may have helped him redefine his age—he turned 45 in 2016. How does he do it? "I still have plenty of vices, but alcohol isn't one of them," he told GQ. "It's probably just down to sleep and diet...I'm pretty healthy so I think that helps a lot. I've been that way for a long time—20 solid years of eating vegetarian/vegan and taking care of myself. That probably helps the preservation process."

Would you look at Bernadette Peters and think, "Wow you look good for almost 70?" No, no you wouldn't, because there's a good chance that you are as continuously confused as the rest of us as to how Peters manages to defy the numbers. With her signature curls and sensual figure, she could tell us whatever age she wants and we'd believe her. The truth is, she's celebrating her 69th birthday in 2017, prompting much speculation as to her ability to age so gracefully. Is it a matter of good genes or great plastic surgery? We prefer to sit in the corner and cry because no matter what her secret is, she probably won't be sharing it with the rest of us.

Whether you know him as Cinna in The Hunger Games movie franchise, or as the "Fly Away" rock god of the '90s, there's a strong possibility that you've swooned over Lenny Kravitz. His mysterious vibe only adds to his age-defying mystique. He'll turn 53 in 2017, and at this rate, we're willing to bet his effortless coolness will woo new generations of fans for decades to come.

Rapper Jay-Z may be nearly a decade older than wife Beyoncé, but the age gap isn't as apparent when the music moguls stand side by side. Jay-Z has looked relatively the same throughout most of their relationship and much of his career. While some might take that as a confirmation of that corny "Illuminati mess," it's very likely that, just like his lady, Jay-Z is taking good care of himself. That's a good thing because the rapper is going to be a father again—to twins—at age 47.

Julianne Moore has impressed so many people with her timeless beauty that the Academy Award-winning actress gets asked relentlessly to dish on her favorite beauty treatments. "Alpha hydroxy acids work really well with my skin," she told InStyle, "but I have
 to stay away from retinoids; they are too powerful for me." Moore, who is celebrating her 57th birthday in 2017, said she prefers face oils, acupuncture, and yoga classes "that don't have mirrors."

We're starting to think American Horror Story (2011-) is trying to tell us something about Angela Bassett. The actress has played both an age-defying voodoo queen and an immortal vampire on the series. Perhaps it was meant as a quiet tribute to the fact that though she'll technically turned 58 in 2016, Bassett seems to have stopped aging over the past couple of decades. When asked how she manages to stay so fit and beautiful, she revealed a few beauty secrets. "I believe in caring for your skin so you don't have to cover it with makeup," she told People. "At one point, I was so overrun with products and wanted a less-is-more approach." Bassett even teamed up with a dermatologist to create her own line of skincare products. She also recommends proper exercise and nutrition and getting plenty of sleep.

How many supermodels in their forties can you think of who are still gracing top magazine covers and walking in fashion shows for blue chip clients? Not only that, but the fabulous Naomi Campbell continues to look every bit as flawless now as she did in her prime...that is, if you think her prime ever ended. Since Campbell shows no signs of slowing down, we look forward to her celebrating her 47th birthday in 2017 and fiercely stomping down the runway for years to come.

Keanu Reeves' apparent lack of visible aging has raised a few conspiracy theories, including claims that the actor may be immortal. Yes, while the rest of us are simply impressed with how good Reeves looks for a man who turned 52 in 2016, others are citing "pretty conclusive" photographic evidence to prove The Matrix (1999) star was once known as the great King Charlemagne.