12 Actors Who Still Shine On-Screen to Prove That Age Has Nothing to Do With Talent

In 2021, Anthony Hopkins, at 83 years of age, broke an Academy record by becoming the oldest actor to win such an award. Today, there are a few artists in Hollywood who, like him, are still very active despite being older.

At Bright Side, we made a list of some Hollywood actors and actresses who are still working in front of cameras despite their age.

1. Ellen Burstyn

Ellen Burstyn was born in 1932 in Detroit, Michigan. Before becoming an actress, she worked in various jobs, ranging from serving to modeling and dancing. She achieved notoriety with her performance in the film, Goodbye Charlie, in 1964, which motivated her to study acting with Lee Strasberg.

Her great success came in 1971, with The Last Picture Show, thanks to which she was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Oscar. From then on, she began a very successful career in film and TV. In 2022, at the age of 89, she is still acting in series such as Law and Order and The First Lady.

2. Anthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins was born in 1937 in Wales in the United Kingdom. He studied drama at a very young age and graduated in 1957. He joined the English National Theatre Company after being invited by the legendary actor, Laurence Olivier, who saw a lot of potential in Hopkins.

In 1967, he began acting on TV, starting his long acting career that went on to include more than 140 films. In 2020, at the age of 83, he won an Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in the dramatic production, The Father. He is still actively working and is currently filming the sequel to that film, The Son.

3. James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones was born in 1931 in Mississippi in the United States. He began studying acting as a way to channel all the energy that kept him restless most of the time. This was the start of a prolific career that led him to act in several classic movies.

His deep and unmistakable voice allowed him to give voices to several iconic movie characters, such as Darth Vader and Mufasa from The Lion King. In 2022, at the age of 91, he returned to voice the Star Wars villain in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.

4. Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith is one of the most famous and distinguished English actresses. Born in 1934, she began her career in the 1950s in theater, moving to film in 1956. Since then, she has acted in more than 85 films and TV series alongside the world’s most renowned actors.

Her roles in Harry Potter and Downton Abbey have kept her in the public eye. Currently, at the age of 88, she is filming another movie, and it has been announced that she will be part of another one that will start filming soon.

5. Michael Caine

Michael Caine was born in London in 1933. As a boy, he left school to serve in the army. Upon his return, he became interested in acting, and, thanks to his great stage presence, he worked in more than 170 productions as an actor.

In the following years, the 1964 film, Zulu, brought him international recognition, which, along with his talent, led him to become a star, both in his native England and in the US. In 2022, at the age of 89, he still has 3 films that are either planned or in the process of being filmed, which will be released at the end of this year and at the beginning of 2023.

6. Al Pacino

Al Pacino is one of the most recognized actors in cinema for his participation in great classics, such as The Godfather, Scarface, and many more. Now, at 82 years old, he continues to act with the most recognized directors in the world of cinema, such as Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Ridley Scott. He also has 2 films that are about to be released, proving this great actor is far from retirement.

7. Ian McKellen

Sir Ian McKellen is considered one of the greatest English actors who has had the greatest international impact. He was born in 1939 and, from a very young age, showed acting talent that led him to play several Shakespearean roles in the English theater. In 1964, he began acting on British TV, and in 1966 he obtained a recurring role in the series, David Copperfield.

He gained international recognition when he acted in X-Men and The Lord of the Rings. Currently, at 83, he continues to act in independent films and in the theater in his native England.

8. Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman was born in 1937 and, as a young man, he enlisted and worked in the army for several years. After that, he landed minor roles in independent films in the 1970s. He continued acting in film and theater until 1978 when he received an award for his performance in the play, The Mighty Gents.

His TV debut was in 1971 on the program, The Electric Company. Since then, he has not stopped working. He currently has 7 films announced that are either in post-production or soon to be released.

9. Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood was born in 1930 in San Francisco, California. He began his acting career in low-budget films in the 1950s, both in science fiction and war genres. His big break came in 1964 when Sergio Leone chose him for his rugged looks to star in his spaghetti westerns. From then on, his career took off with great success in the decades that followed.

In the ’70s, he attempted to become a director. In his career, he has won 5 Oscars and many other awards for his work both as a director and an actor. His retirement has not yet been announced, so it is expected that he will soon be in front of or behind the cameras of another film. In 2021, he starred in and directed Cry Macho.

10. Alan Alda

At 86 years old, Alan Alda is still acting in dramatic roles, like on the show, Ray Donovan. He began his career very young, in 1958, at the age of 22, in television series. His greatest success was MASH, a production that is considered a TV classic.

11. Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren is an English actress born in 1945. She began acting at a very young age in plays at school, which motivated her to dedicate herself fully to acting when she finished high school. Her vast career spans over 135 acting roles and 6 projects that are about to be released throughout this year and in 2023.

12. Judi Dench

Judi Dench was born in 1934 in England. She has a very formal academic background, which began at the Central School of Speech and Drama in her native country. Later, she was part of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre Company.

She has received multiple awards for her performances in England and abroad. Her career enlists more than 130 acting roles, and at 87 years old, she still has one more film to be released.

What are your favorite films that feature veteran actors? Tell us in the comments.