Actresses over 40 who still rule Hollywood

In 2017, Time magazine named her one of the world's 100 Most Influential People. Most recently, Paulson is known for her work on the series 'American Horror Story,' on M. Night Shyamalan's 'Glass,' and she'll be starring as Nurse Ratched in the upcoming Netflix series adapted from 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.'

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Viola Davis -

Also a member of the 50+ club, Viola Davis first started getting the attention she deserved with her Oscar-nominated performance in 2008's 'Doubt.' More recently, she's garnered critical acclaim for her role in 2016's 'Fences' and 2018's 'Widows,' as well as the hit series 'How to Get Away with Murder' (2014-2018).

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Melissa McCarthy -

Most people forget that Melissa McCarthy started out in 'Gilmore Girls' because she continues to reinvent herself onscreen, first with 'Bridesmaids' and most recently in 2018's 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?' which proved she has so much more to give.

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Sandra Bullock -

For many stars, it's hard to escape the confines of being a rom-com sweetheart, but Sandra Bullock has been doing a fantastic job of it, particularly with films like 'Gravity' and the horror film 'Bird Box.'

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Julia Roberts -

A legendary actress, Julia Roberts made a name for herself with films like 'Pretty Woman' and 'Erin Brockovich,' but she has continued to rule Hollywood and now stars in the Amazon Prime Video psychological thriller series 'Homecoming.'

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Halle Berry -

Halle Berry made history as one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, and as the first Black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar. Most recently, she starred in 'John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,' and is still discussing new roles and making mistakes under the unwavering spotlight.

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Vera Farmiga -

Having found success with hits like the 'Conjuring' movies, Best Picture-winner 'The Departed,' and 'Up in the Air' alongside George Clooney, Vera Farmiga has kept her foot on the gas with her work on the 'Bates Motel' series and the 2019 miniseries 'When They See Us.'

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Helena Bonham Carter -

Helena Bonham Carter is inseparable from movies like 'Fight Club' and the 'Harry Potter' film series, but she's still going with roles like Princess Margaret in season 3 and 4 of 'The Crown.'

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Angela Bassett -

Born in 1958, the actress also belongs to the over-60 club. She has starred in numerous films ever since gaining fame for her role as Tina Turner in 'What's Love Got to Do with It' (1993), for which she was nominated for an Oscar. Her career has been very consistent, with films coming out almost every year from 'Malcolm X' to 'Black Panther.'

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Rose Byrne -

The Australian actress made us laugh in 'Bridesmaids,' showed off her dramatic talent in the series 'Damages,' and most recently she plays Gloria Steinem in the limited series 'Mrs. America.'

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Jodie Foster -

Jodie Foster had her breakthrough role very young, in 'Taxi Driver,' and found more success onscreen with roles in 'Silence of the Lambs,' 'Contact,' and 'Panic Room.' Most recently, she starred in 2018's 'Hotel Artemis,' and in the director's chair she worked on an episode of 'Black Mirror' and the 2020 Amazon Prime Video sci-fi drama 'Tales from the Loop.'

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Jennifer Aniston -

Another member of the over-50 club, Jennifer Aniston is best known for playing Rachel Green, but she hasn't let the 'Friends' curse define her career. Her most recent role in Apple TV's 'Morning Show' is proof that she's still busy conquering Hollywood.

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Famke Janssen -

Best known for playing Jean Grey in the 'X-Men' film series, Famke Janssen has also recently had a recurring role on the series 'How to Get Away with Murder' alongside Viola Davis. She also costarred in the 2019 thriller 'Primal' with Nicolas Cage, and 2020's 'The Postcard Killings.'

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Gabrielle Union -

Following her breakthrough role in cult comedy 'Bring It On,' Gabrielle Union found more success in rom-coms, but she also starred on BET's first scripted drama 'Being Mary Jane.' In 2019, she took on a role costarring with Jessica Alba on the action series 'L.A.'s Finest.'

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Gwyneth Paltrow -

Though she's largely preoccupied with Goop controversies these days, Gwyneth Paltrow has also embedded herself in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Pepper Potts, and she's starring in the Netflix series 'The Politician.'

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Sofia Vergara -

Starting from films like 'Soul Plane,' the actress has made quite a name for herself in comedy, and in 2020 she wrapped a long run on the ABC sitcom 'Modern Family.'

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Julianne Moore -

Julianne Moore's talent seems only to get better with age! She won an Academy Award for her role in 2014's 'Still Alice,' and 2018's 'Gloria Bell' is another stunning example of her seasoned work.

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Nia Long -

From starring in the '90s classics 'Boyz n the Hood' and 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' to more recent appearances on 'NCIS: Los Angeles' and '#BlackAF,' Nia Long has had almost a lifetime of success in Hollywood.

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Tina Fey -

Best known for her comedic acts on 'Saturday Night Live' and her scripted series '30 Rock,' Tina Fey has also had success in films like 'Date Night' and more recently 2019's 'Wine Country.'

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Actresses over 40 who still rule Hollywood

The ladies whose talent ages like fine wine

15/02/22 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Women

When actress Maggie Gyllenhaal was infamously told she was too old to accurately portray the lover of a 55-year-old man, while she was 37, people started to pay attention to the problem of ageism in Hollywood, specifically as it's targeted at women. The way the screen has warped our idea of what women should look like has reinforced body image issues, and it also puts many actresses over 40 out of work, robbing them of the chance to deliver the nuanced performances they've been fine-tuning with years of experience.

Fortunately, there are those that have remained in the industry, some after having taken a hiatus, but these inspiring women over 40 are still conquering Hollywood. Click through to see the stars who were born before 1980 and are going full speed in 2020.