15+ Gorgeous Actors and Actresses Who Decided to Skip Retirement and Continue Their Careers

For some reason, there’s an opinion in Hollywood that only youth is appreciated and that after reaching a certain age, actors stop appearing in movies. And this is considered to be especially true for women. But talent doesn’t depend on age and this was proven by many celebrities who have left their younger years far behind, but who never lost their charisma and charm. And the passing years bring the necessary experience and wisdom that help them deal better with difficult roles.

We at Bright Side are delighted with these actors and actresses, who clearly prove that age is just a number on your birth certificate, and who continue to delight viewers with their new roles.

1. Anthony Hopkins

Anthony got his first acting job in 1967, when he was 30 years old, but real success came to the actor after the film The Silence of the Lambs was released. Today, Anthony Hopkins is 82 years old, and he recently wrapped up one of the main roles in the film The Two Popes, and in 2020, we’ll see him in the premiere of the film The Father.

2. Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is rightfully called one of the greatest actresses of our time. She started her career in theater when she was about 20 years old, but then she switched her attention to cinema, and since then she has managed to star in a huge number of films. The actress has 3 Oscar awards for her work. At the moment, Meryl Streep is 71 years old, but she actively continues her acting career. Last year alone, 3 major projects in which she participated were released, including the TV series Big Little Lies and the film Little Women.

3. Michael Douglas

The son of the legendary actor Kirk Douglas first appeared on screen at the age of 25, but he became famous after the series The Streets of San Francisco. This was followed by an equally successful role in the thriller Coma. Now, Douglas has more than 60 films in his filmography, and the actor continues to work on the new projects. We’d especially like to mention his work in the series The Kominsky Method, where Michael plays the main role.

4. Helen Mirren

Having started her way to fame at the age of 24, Helen has proven that she can play even the most diverse roles. And the older Helen has become, the more charismatic roles she’s been offered. Just last year, the 73-year-old actress took part in 3 major projects, among which was the role of Catherine the Great.

5. Jonathan Pryce

British actor Jonathan Pryce started his career at the age of 29, and he has acted in over 70 films since then. Moreover, Jonathan became known to a wide audience at an older age — he gained massive popularity after his role as the High Sparrow, in the TV series Game of Thrones, which was followed by equally successful roles in the films The Wife and The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.

6. Jane Fonda

A true fan of a healthy lifestyle, Jane Fonda looks great even at 80+ years old. Apparently, aerobics and fitness have allowed her to stay in excellent shape and continue to star in leading roles. Today, Fonda plays one of the main roles in the series Grace and Frankie, which was renewed for its 7th season in 2019.

7. Robert De Niro

Winner of 2 Oscar awards, Robert De Niro gained popularity after the release of The Godfather: Part II, and since then, he has never lowered the bar. Today, the legendary actor is 76 years old and he isn’t going to give up his position anytime soon, his most recent work in Martin Scorsese’s film The Irishman proves this.

8. Maggie Smith

Despite the fact that Maggie Smith first appeared on the screen at the age of 21, her real popularity came a little later — after the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. During her long career, the actress has won an Oscar twice. Today, Maggie Smith is 85 years old, and her fans were able to recently enjoy her work in the movie Downton Abbey.

9. Donald Sutherland

It may be hard to believe, but Donald began his acting career in horror films— his first acting job was the horror movie The Castle of the Living Dead. Fortunately, other directors discovered his great potential and began to offer him a wide variety of roles. At the same time, a wide audience remembers Sutherland as the insidious President Snow from The Hunger Games trilogy. Today, Donald is 85 years old and he’s full of energy — last year the actor starred in several films, and soon, we will be able to appreciate another film of his — The Burnt Orange Heresy.

10. Diane Keaton

Oscar winner Diane Keaton made her film debut in The Godfather at the age of 26. Since then, the actress has gone a long way and has become a real trendsetter. Fans recently enjoyed her performance in the comedy Poms.

11. Michael Caine

Few people know that this famous actor went through the Korean War and miraculously survived. After the service, Michael decided to connect his life with cinema, but his first experience wasn’t very successful — he starred in the film Carve Her Name With Pride but his name wasn’t even mentioned in the credits. Real success came to Caine after his role in the film Zulu. Since then, the actor has played more than 130 roles and continues to act to this day.

12. Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman’s career didn’t develop very quickly — his debut wasn’t very bright and afterward, the actor took a small career break. Success came to Freeman after his role in the movie Street Smart, for which he was nominated for an Oscar. Currently, the 83-year-old actor has more than 100 roles in his filmography, and he recently delighted fans with his performance in the film Angel Has Fallen.

13. Catherine Deneuve

This star of French cinema became famous after her role in the melodrama The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and since then, she has been considered one of the most beautiful actresses of her generation. Recently, this diva played the main role in the drama The Truth, and by just looking at Catherine, it’s impossible to believe that she is 76 years old.

14. Ian McKellen

We know Ian as the white magician of Middle-Earth, as well as the powerful Magneto from The X-Men. At the same time, the actor began his career on the theater stage, and he gained worldwide fame after his role in the film Richard III. Today, Ian has more than 90 roles in his creative piggy bank, the latest of which are Gus the Theatre Cat and The Good Liar.

15. Al Pacino

Before becoming a famous actor, Al Pacino managed to work as a courier, a cleaner, a postman, and at the same time, he studied acting. After a small role in the film The Panic in Needle Park, Pacino was noticed by Francis Coppola, who invited him to audition for the role of Michael Corleone. Since then, Al Pacino has become a real star and in his 80s, he still continues to delight us with his bright work. Last year, he starred in 2 powerful projects at once — The Irishman by Martin Scorsese and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino.

16. Christopher Walken

Christopher can be considered one of the most active Hollywood actors, as he almost never refuses a role and treats each of them as new acting experience. It’s not surprising that Walken has over 100 different projects in his collection of roles. Christopher Walken is now 77 years old, but he is clearly in no hurry to retire. In 2020, the premiere of the comedy The War With Grandpa will be released, where Walken plays the main role.

17. Jessica Lange

In the ’80s, Jessica Lange became a symbol of elegance. She made her debut in King Kong, but it took her 6 years to become popular and win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the comedy Tootsie. The modern generation knows Jessica as a TV star — over the past few years, she’s managed to star in such high-profile projects as American Horror Story, Feud, and Politician.

Who would you like to highlight from our selection? Or maybe, we forgot to mention some actors and actresses who have been delighting us with their performances for several generations?