20 Stars Way Older Than You Think

1 | Pharrell Williams — 44

Being "Happy" must keep you young. The guy behind the most infectious/annoying (depending on your viewpoint) song of 2014, not to mention a few hundred other hits for everyone from Beyonce to Jay-Z to Robin Thicke, is much older then he appears.

He could probably pass for a college kid if he wanted to, but Williams has been around for a lot longer than you probably realized. Fun fact: he helped produce Wreckx-N-Effect's 1992 hit "Rump Shaker." This guy has had a long career.

2 | Jim Parsons — 44

Not only has Parsons been playing the same character for more than a decade, it's a character who's socially stunted, still living in an apartment with roommates, and partial to comic book t-shirts—all of which gives him the look and vibe of an overgrown teenager. It's working for him though, the perpetually youthful Parsons could pull off at least a decade younger, though it can be hard to take him seriously in more "adult" roles. And if you want to shave years off your life instantly check out these 15 Men's Haircuts That Will Make You Look Younger. 

3 | Salma Hayek — 51

It's kind of insane that the beauty from Desperado is over 50, and she continues to stun as she did throughout awards season—not only with her looks but her creative output and activism. Though her character in Beatriz at Dinner was hardly meant to be a glamorous character, Hayek's natural beauty shone through (and helped earn her a Best Actress nomination from the Independent Spirit Awards).

4 | Julianne Moore — 57

Approaching 60 and looking better than ever, Moore looks like she hasn't aged much since The Big Lebowski. Even when she's playing the gray-haired president in Hunger Games, it's hard to imagine that Moore's not a decade younger than her actual age. And for some great tips on turning back the clock yourself, check out the 100 Best Anti-Aging Secrets!

5 | Jared Leto — 46

Maybe it's the stories of his childish/creepy antics getting into character for Suicide Squad, or the fact he's still touring with his rock band in his free time, but it's hard to think of Leto as a guy who's fully grown up. At 47, Leto still seems to give his all to every role and seems to approach the world with the wide-eyed passion he exhibits toward a certain green coat. And to learn more about Leto's secret to aging, check out these 20 Secrets of Ageless Celebrities.

6 | Anna Kendrick — 32

Her character in the Pitch Perfect franchise just graduated college, but Kendrick is in her 30s. The actress has the energy of college kid and still seems as fresh-faced and precocious as she was in Up in the Air. It's hard to believe that movie came out almost a decade ago.

7 | Keanu Reeves — 52

On the one hand, it's hard to remember a time when we didn't have Keanu in our lives. The man has had a long and storied career, reinventing the action genre several times all while seeming like he was barely trying. On the other hand, can you believe Keanu's over 50? Even as the battle-hardened and disenchanted John Wick, the guy still seems much younger than that.

8 | Angela Bassett — 59

Angela Bassett has always had the presence and control of an actress who had been doing this forever, but while she's always seemed wise beyond her years, it's easy to forget that now, pushing 60, she's actually something of an elder. She used that to her advantage as she went full regal in Black Panther, and even as she had a commanding presence, she looked great doing it. And if you'd like to look as good as Bassett, be sure to ditch the 20 Beauty Products You Should Never Use. 

9 | Reese Witherspoon — 41

This ebullient actress is a master at not just being warm and magnetic, but exploring the less savory aspects of perkiness, from Election to her recent smash success with Big Little Lies. But even when she gets into dark territory, it's hard to think of her as a fortysomething.

10 | Paul Rudd — 48

Ant-Man may have the power to shrink and grow at will, but Rudd appears able to halt the aging process by his sheer charm. This guy looks so young, there are games that challenge you to figure out which version of him is younger—and it's darn near impossible, even when they're more than a decade apart. The fact that he's pushing 50 is almost impossible to believe. For more celebrity fun facts, don't miss these 20 Celebrity Friendships You Never Knew Existed. 

11 | Carey Mulligan — 32

Though her career rise has been fast, Mulligan is a bit more of an acting veteran than she appears (and that's not just because she's partial to period films). While her petite size and youthful face makes her a good fit for ingénue roles, she has been in the business for almost a decade and a half. Now a mother of two, you'd be forgiven for thinking she was a decade younger than she actually is.

12 | Drew Barrymore — 43

Barrymore has been in our lives since E.T., but it's still hard to think of her as a fortysomething. While she's expanded from acting into directing, producing, and her own fashion line, she still has the quirky, friendly vibe of someone half her age.

13 | Ellie Kemper — 37

Kemper has cornered the market on cheery, energetic (if kind of naïve) optimists. All that bubbliness seems to keep her feeling young, because it's hard watching Kimmy Schmidt to believe that she's not in her 20s.

14 | Samuel L. Jackson — 69

The guy has been kicking butt for decades and if the trailer for Infinity War is any indication, he's just getting started. But while Jackson has come to embody a youthful swagger and shows no sign of slowing down, with 176 credits to his name and counting, he's also well past retirement age.

15 | Rob Lowe — 53

This guy's career has had about seven acts at this point, from Brat Pack heartthrob to scandalized pariah, SNL movie villain, and reliably fun TV star. For someone who has been through so many rebirths, you'd think he'd be showing his age more, but at 53, Lowe still looks fit, chipper, and younger than his years.

16 | Gabrielle Union — 45

Gaining early attention for her moves in Bring It On, it's easy to imagine that Union would still have little trouble tackling a tough cheerleading routine. She looks as good as ever and even though she's well into her 40s, you'd be forgiven for thinking she was two-thirds her actual age.

17 | Seth Green — 44

Sure, this guy has recently spent more time behind the camera, creating Robot Chicken or voicing Chris Griffin on Family Guy, but when he pops up in shows and on red carpets, he doesn't look like he's aged since he was playing Dr. Evil's angry teenage son. It seems spending over a decade playing with action figures can keep you young.

18 | Matthew McConaughey — 48

Speaking of surfer dudes—or Surfer, Dude—it's hard to beat McConaughey in the laid-back department. Even after he's become a full-blown "serious actor," he still seems barely older than his twentysomething character in Dazed and Confused, who enjoyed hanging around high school girls. We get older. He stays the same age.

19 | Ice Cube — 48

It's hard to picture one of our all-time favorite rappers pushing 50. The rapper has moved seamlessly into a career in acting, writing, and now producing his own mega-successful biopic, but still seems like he could party like he was a teenager.

20 | Demetri Martin — 44

The mop top really subtracts the years. With his signature bowl haircut and deadpan delivery, this standup comic and the writer/director/illustrator behind the recent indie flick Dean still looks like he's in high school. Then again, it might be all those clever doodles he does that gives him the still-in-school vibe.

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