Long ago, in Hollywood, a woman over 40 years old went the way of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. We’ve come a long way baby, and 40 isn’t what it used to be. In fact, women of a certain age have made great strides in redefining outdated beauty standards.
With advances in skin care, diet and cosmetic procedures, it is possible for women to maintain a youthful appearance long into their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond. Still, sex appeal has far more to do with attitude than appearance. Here are some thoughts on rewriting the rules from our favorite sex symbols who still sizzle.
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Mamie Van Doren
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “My best asset is my brain. Without my brain, I don’t think the rest of me would be too hot.” Mamie Van Doren, 84
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Madonna
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “I take care of myself. I’m in good shape. I can show my ass when I’m 56, or 66 — or 76. Who’s to say when I can show my ass? It’s sexism. It’s ageism. And it’s a kind of discrimination.” Madonna, 56
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Sophia Loren
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “There is a fountain of youth, your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” Sophia Loren, 81
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Halle Berry
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “I felt like at 40 I had the right to be who I wanted to be, say what I wanted to say, and accept what I didn’t want to accept.” Halle Berry, 49
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Julianne Moore
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “If you’re 50, you’re never going to be 50 again, so enjoy it. If you sit through the year wishing you were younger, before you know it, it’s going to be over, and you’re going to be 51.” Julianne Moore, 54
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Salma Hayek
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “As a woman, you should be more at ease with your sexuality when you are in your 40s. You are more self-assured about that part. And that’s the way it should be.” Salma Hayek, 49
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Raquel Welch
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “The whole sex-symbol thing is part of what I do as an actress. It’s a kind of character I play. It’s part of me, but not the whole me.” Raquel Welch, 75
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Jennifer Lopez
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “There’s a certain love, appreciation and gratitude that you have at 40 that you don’t have when you’re younger, and it makes every accomplishment feel so much better.” Jennifer Lopez, 46
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Helen Mirren
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “I am not too keen on my nose, I don’t like my knees, I hate my ankles, I am unsure about my behind, I don’t like my legs at all. I am not too sure about my chin, my forehead is a bit dodgy. But, overall, I can live with it.” Helen Mirren, 70
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Sharon Stone
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “This idea that being youthful is the only thing that’s beautiful or attractive simply isn’t true. I don’t want to be an ‘ageless beauty.’ I want to be a woman who is the best I can be at my age.” Sharon Stone, 57
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Kim Cattrall
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “Someone recently asked what I am most proud of. The thing I’m most proud of is that I’m in my 50s and I’m still a leading lady.” Kim Cattrall, 59
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Michelle Pfeiffer
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “Just standing around looking beautiful is so boring.” Michelle Pfeiffer, 57
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Cher
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “Until your ready to look foolish, you’ll never have the possibility of being great.” Cher, 69
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Jane Fonda
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “It’s never too late — never too late to start over, never too late to be happy.” Jane Fonda, 77
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Grace Jones
Image Credit: Terese Condella/Sheknows “Forget health clinics and gyms. Sex is the best cure. One good night of sex and your problems are gone.” Grace Jones, 67
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