Whether it's because they look like they haven't aged a day in the past 20 years or because we so heavily associate them with a character they played in their youth, it's difficult to accept that some celebrities have aged right along with us. But it's true. The stars of your favorite teen movies are busy parents with big families. The pop icons you grew up with could be going through a mid-life crisis by now. Read on for 40 celebrities you won't believe are in their 40s.
READ THIS NEXT:42 Celebrities You Didn't Know Were Grandparents.
1 | Britney Spears
Tinseltown / Shutterstock
Birthday: Dec. 2, 1981
According toPeople, pop icon and former teen idolBritney Spearsmarked her 40th birthday with a beach vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with her now-husband Sam Asghari. The trip also probably served as a celebration of the end of her conservatorship, which she had been fighting for years.
2 | Serena Williams
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Michael Kors
Birthday: Sept. 26, 1981
"The incomparable @serenawilliams - grateful for every minute I get with my amazing wife & Olympia's mama," tennis legendSerena Williams'husbandAlexis Ohanianwrote in an Instagram post for her 40th.
3 | Chris Evans
Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock
Birthday: June 13, 1981
When Marvel starChris Evansturned 40, he got Instagram-roasted by his fellow franchise Chrises (Hemsworth and Pratt).
4 | Chad Michael Murray
Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb
Birthday: Aug. 24, 1981
ActorChad Michael Murrayreferenced his two biggest teen heartthrob characters in his birthday Instagram post. "You wanna feel old?" he wrote on a throwback photo of himself in his trailer. "Lucas Scott [fromOne Tree Hill] and Austin Ames [fromA Cinderella Story] turn 40 today!!!"
5 | Danielle Fishel
DFree/Shutterstock
Birthday: May 5, 1981
Boy Meets WorldstarDanielle Fishelhad big news to share on her big 4-0. She announced she was pregnant with her second child, Keaton Joseph, who was born in August.
6 | Elijah Wood
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival
Birthday: Jan. 28, 1981
Elijah Woodfirst came to fame as a child actor in movies includingThe Adventures of Huck FinnandThe Good Son, but he cemented himself in the hearts of J.R.R. Tolkienfans forever when he starred as Frodo inThe Lord of the Ringsfranchise.
7 | Meghan Markle
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala
Birthday: Aug. 4, 1981
Duchess of SussexMeghan Markleturned her 40th birthday into a service event, launching the initiative 40x40, which encouraged people all over the world to pledge 40 minutes of mentorship.
For more celebrity trivia sent right to you inbox,sign up for our daily newsletter.
8 | Anne Hathaway
Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock
Birthday: Nov. 12, 1982
Anne Hathawaytold theWall Street Journal Magazineahead of her 40th that she was planning a joint vacation celebration with a group of her old friends from Vassar College.
9 | Seth Rogen
Monica Schipper/WireImage
Birthday: April 15, 1982
Seth Rogendidn't say much publicly about his own 40th birthday, but the year prior, he noted on Twitter that McLovin, the famous alias of one of the characters in his movie Superbad, had just "turned" the same age.
10 | Nicki Minaj
Rich Fury/Getty Images for Billboard
Birthday: Dec. 8, 1982
Rapper and momNicki Minajturned 40 in 2022, the same year she released her first greatest hits album,Queen Radio: Volume 1.
11 | Thora Birch
Ovidiu Hrubaru/Shutterstock
Ovidiu Hrubaru/Shutterstock
Birthday: March 11, 1982
The same year she turned 40, former child starThora Birchmade her directorial debut with Lifetime'sThe Gabby Petito Story.
12 | Macaulay Culkin
Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock
Birthday: Aug. 26, 1980
On his birthday in 2020, Home Alone actorMacaulay Culkintweeted a message that rocked his followers who've been watching him since he was a child star: "Hey guys, wanna feel old? I'm 40. You're welcome."
13 | Kieran Culkin
Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Birthday: Sept. 30, 1982
Culkin's younger brother,Successionstar Kieran Culkin, joined his older sibling in the 40 club a couple of years later.
14 | Zooey Deschanel
DFree / Shutterstock.com
Birthday: Jan. 17, 1980
New GirlstarZooey Deschanellooked back to the past on her 40th, hosting an epic '80s-themed soiree.
15 | Lin-Manuel Miranda
lev radin/Shutterstock
Birthday: Jan. 16, 1980
As if he hadn't already racked up enough honors in his lifetime, Lin-Manuel Mirandawas surprised on his 40th birthday with the news that Huntington, West Virginia had officially proclaimed it Lin-Manuel Miranda Day.
16 | Wilmer Valderrama
Ovidiu Hrubaru/Shutterstock
Birthday: Jan. 30, 1980
At 43,Wilmer Valderramareprised the role that made him famous back in his 20s: Fez, fromThat '70s Show, in the sequel series That '90s Show.
17 | Andy Samberg
Shutterstock/Featureflash Photo Agency
Birthday: Aug. 18, 1978
Saturday Night Livealum and Lonely Island member Andy Sambergmay seem like a perpetual youth, but he's actually a dad well into his mid-40s.
18 | Rachel McAdams
Ron Adar/Shutterstock
Birthday: Nov. 17, 1978
Famous for playing the meanest of high school mean girls, actor Rachel McAdamsturned 40 in 2018.
19 | Chelsea Clinton
Shutterstock/lev radin
Birthday: Feb. 27, 1980
The world metChelsea Clintonwhen she was a teenager, so it may still be hard to wrap your head around the fact that, today, she's a writer and mom of three in her 40s.
20 | Kristen Bell
Shutterstock/Quinn Jeffrey
Birthday: July 18, 1980
The Good Placestar may be a parent now, but that doesn't mean she doesn't know how to kick back anymore. In fact, she toldJimmy Kimmelthat she took hallucinogenic mushrooms for the first time on her 40th.
21 | Chris Pine
Shutterstock/Kathy Hutchins
Birthday: Aug. 26, 1980
Star TrekandWonder Womanstar Chris Pine turned 40 in 2020, but if there was a celebration, the famously private actor kept it to himself.
22 | Channing Tatum
Shutterstock/Tinseltown
Birthday: April 26, 1980
Apparently, Magic MikestarChanning Tatumis such a stand-up guy, that even his exes are eager to wish him a happy birthday. "Happy 40th birthday to this special man right here," his former girlfriendJessie Jwrote in her Instagram tribute, per E! News."I am so grateful you were born, and even more grateful that we met."
23 | Jessica Simpson
DFree/Shutterstock
Birthday: July 10, 1980
Pop star and fashion mogul Jessica Simpsonadmitted in a Sirius XM interview that she was "freaking out" about turning 40. The 2020 release of her well-received memoir, Open Book, likely softened the blow.
24 | Beyoncé
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Birthday: Sept. 4, 1981
Beyoncé'sfans were more than ready to celebrate their queen's birthday, showering her in tributes and kind words. The star responded with a letter of gratitude posted to her website that read, "I'm so thankful for every inspiring human who took the time to send me all the beautiful messages. I cried tears of joy and was covered in chilly bumps."
25 | Paris Hilton
Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock
Birthday: Feb. 17, 1981
Paris Hiltoncombined two happy occasions by announcing on her 40th that she was engaged to boyfriend Carter Reum. They got married later that year and welcomed their first child in 2023.
26 | Natalie Portman
Loredana Sangiuliano/Shutterstock
Loredana Sangiuliano/Shutterstock
Birthday: June 9, 1981
Natalie Portmanhas been in the business since she was just a kid herself. Now in her 40s, she's got two of her own—plus an Oscar.
27 | Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter
Birthday: Feb. 17, 1981
Another star on this list who got his start as a child actor,Joseph Gordon-Levittturned 40 in 1981, the same year he starred in the Apple TV+ showMr. Corman.
28 | Stephanie Beatriz
Araya Doheny/Getty Images
Birthday: Feb. 10, 1981
Disney fans all over may know her best as 15-year-old Mirabel, the character she voices in the animated hit Encanto, butBrooklyn Nine-NinestarStephanie Beatrizalso hit 40 in 2021.
29 | Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Lev Radin/Shutterstock
Birthday: May 15, 1981
Jamie Lynn-Siglerhit the big time playing Tony Soprano's teenage daughterMeadow inThe Sopranos. Now, the actor is in her 40s and has two children of her own.
30 | Hayden Christensen
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney
Birthday: April 19, 1981
Star WarsactorHayden Christensenis still a part of the franchise over 20 years after he made his debut as Anakin Skywalker at age 21.
31 | Jessica Alba
lev radin/Shutterstock
Birthday: April 28, 1981
"It's so weird, 'cause when you're little, you're like, 'That age just feels aggressive,'" actorJessica Albasaid on The Tonight Showof turning 40. "You're just like, 'That's a grown-[expletive] person.'"
32 | Priyanka Chopra
Fred Duval/Shutterstock
Birthday: July 18, 1982
International starPriyanka Chopracelebrated her milestone birthday alongside husband Nick Jonasand dozens of friends and family members in Mexico.
33 | Eddie Reydmayne
Fred Duval/Shutterstock
Birthday: Jan. 6, 1982
Oscar winnerEddie Redmaynehit his 40th birthday in 2022, a year that also saw him star in the thirdFantastic Beastsmovie and the Netflix true crime thriller The Good Nurse.
34 | Daveed Diggs
DFree/Shutterstock
DFree/Shutterstock
Birthday: Jan. 24, 1982
After breaking out in the original cast of Hamilton,Daveed Diggsmoved onto more success on the stage, the small screen, and the big one.
35 | Kirsten Dunst
Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock
Birthday: April 30, 1982
Beloved especially by fans who grew up with her teen movies,Kirsten Dunstscored her first Oscar nomination (forThe Power of the Dog) the same year she turned 40.
36 | Andy Roddick
Leonard Zhukovsky/Shutterstock
Leonard Zhukovsky/Shutterstock
Birthday: Aug. 30, 1982
His wifeBrooklyn Deckerincluded a healthy roast of tennis starAndy Roddickin her 40th birthday tribute to him. Noting that he's not on Instagram to see the throwback photos she shared of him, the model/actor wrote (via People), "Be sure to send him birthday wishes on Twitter where all the other 40 somethings hang out. Time is moving at the speed of light. That's good living, my friends."
37 | Christina Ricci
Tinseltown/Shutterstock
Birthday: Feb. 12, 1980
"I am 40 today,"YellowjacketsstarChristina Ricciwrote on Instagram in 2020 alongside a recent photo of herself. "How are we doing on that cure for death?"
38 | Jodie Sweetin
Eugene Powers/Shutterstock
Birthday: Jan. 19, 1982
"I remember thinking that 40 was such an 'official' age when I was younger," Full House star Jodie Sweetinwrote on Instagram on her 2022 birthday (via People). "Now? I realize 40 is just STARTING to feel like an adult. It's old enough to have learned from lots of mistakes, but young enough to still go for the adventure. It's finally feeling great in my own skin."
39 | Adriana Lima
Fred Duval/Shutterstock
Birthday: June 12, 1981
ModelAdriana Limarocked 40, walking the runway atAlexander Wang'sshow with her pregnant belly on display.
40 | Gemma Chan
DFree/Shutterstock
Birthday: Nov. 29, 1982
Actor Gemma Chanjoined the ranks of stars in their 40s in the same year she appeared in the sci-fi dramaDon't Worry Darling.
