How 60 became the new 30 in Hollywood: Stars in their 7th decade like Demi Moore and Angela Bassett look much younger than celebs at the same age in decades gone by – here’s how they do it

Celebrities in their sixties are looking younger than ever thanks to better skincare and tweakments than ever before.

When sexagenarian Demi Moore accepted her Golden Globe for her role in the Substance, the mother-of-four said she’d been waiting 30 years to be recognised.

The actress, who has won critical acclaim for her role as a fitness star who takes a potion to look younger in horror movie The Substance, is among the stars having a resurgence in their seventh decade.

’60s is not what your 60s used to be. There’s a part of me that’s enjoying figuring it out as I go along,’ she told People.

During her acceptance speech at the Globes, the mother of four said: ‘Thirty years ago, I had a producer tell me that I was a ‘popcorn’ actress and that I could do movies that were successful but I couldn’t be acknowledged. But tonight I learned, I do belong.’ 

And during the awards, the 62-year-old Ghost star looked ageless in a glamorous gold dress. She joined the likes of Mariska Hargitay, Sandra Bullock, Marisa Tomei and George Clooney who too are in their 60s but look far from it and are still enjoying fruitful careers.

Actors like Eddie Murphy, 63, look as youthful as ever, with the Nutty Professor star still booked and busy after starring in action hit Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F last year.

Meanwhile Sharon Stone’s sexy reprisal of her iconic crossed-legs pose from 1992 film Basic Instinct was the ultimate hit back at critics who claimed the 66 year-old’s glory days were behind her. 

Angela Bassett looked incredibly svelte as Queen Ramonda in 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; her performance was equally impressive, garnering the then-62-year old a historic Oscar nod as the first woman, person of colour and Marvel actress to be nominated. 

Wrinkle-free 60-year-olds with long flowing locks and sexy strappy dresses is stark contrast from sexagenarians of yesteryear.

Take the cast of the Golden Girls for instance, the famous American sitcom based on single women in their 50s to 70s debuted in 1985 and featured stars Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty.

Their oversized floral cardigans, greying hair and subtle makeup is a marked departure from the youthful appearance of lets say today’s Mariska Hargitay from Law and Order SVU. 

The actress – who turned 60 this year – has won a cult-like following after depicting headstrong and fearless senior detective Olivia Benson on the show for more than two decades.

The mother-of-three’s action get up and fresh-faced looks have made her a fan favourite, not to mention her stunning red carpet appearances, which include a recent jaw-dropping blue body con dress in May last year.

The same month she covered Variety’s Power Of Women issue in a stylish all black ensemble with luscious brunette locks to match – with no visible signs of greying anywhere.

It’s likely that any 30-something-year-old would gladly sport Mariska’s outfit, which shows a rise in today’s actresses blurring age lines.

It was unheard of for the likes of Katharine Hepburn to sport such an age-defying ensemble in her hey day, instead, the Academy award-winning screen siren was an image of voluminous updos and oversized shirts by the time she reached her 50s.

The American leading lady – who passed away in 2003 age 96 – was the epitome of femininity during her peak throughout the 30s to 50s, having starred in smash hits Morning Gory, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and Long Days Journey Into Night.

Gone is the era when wrinkles and modest clothing were an accepted part of celebrity ageing, as since then, stars the same age have turned tradition on its head by reinventing themselves.

Just last month a resurfaced video of actress Marisa Tomei showed the 60-year-old actress in a racy black dress with a thigh-high split, which revealed her endless long legs.

The viral video had originally been filmed back in December 2021 ahead of her appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers making the Upgraded star 57 at the time.

Fans on X were left gobsmacked, including one person who reposted the reel – which was first uploaded to her main Instagram page – and penned, ‘WHAT DO YOU MEAN 60???’

Other social media users also shared their thoughts on Tomei’s youthful look, with one typing, ‘Had to Google her age to confirm, she looks gorgeous for that age!’

‘Why aren’t we all talking about her lifestyle and health routine? She needs to share her secrets ASAP!’ another added.

According to plastic surgeon and cosmetic expert, Dr Paul Banwell, the dramatic shift in new age stars is down to just that.

Speaking to FEMAIL, the West Sussex-based doctor said the new wave of actors and actresses are committed to ‘longevity’ and so commit to lifestyles that support this.

‘As a society, we have become much more aware of our health and wellness, focusing on attaining nutrients through diet and supplementation’ he told FEMAIL. 

‘An example of this would be through biohacking and longevity medicine, such as NAD+ and sirtuin receptors, which have become very popular this past decade, with celebrities boasting about the benefits’.

NAD+ is an IV drip that improves signs of ageing and cognitive function, as well as possibly assisting in repairing the look of aging skin. 

It costs upwards of $750 and is one of the latest anti-ageing trends allegedly loved by Kendall Jenner and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Meanwhile sirtuins are known for regulating the processes associated with ageing, inflammation and metabolism.

It is certainly true that veteran actress Michelle Yeoh, 62, owes her youthful looks to a lifestyle – albeit an active one.

The Wicked and Crazy Rich Asians star, born in Malaysia, partakes in a tough fitness regimen, namely swimming and other forms of cardio, per GQ.

And Sandra Bullock cuts a youthful figure whenever she steps out thanks to gruelling six-day-week workouts comprising of Pilates, kick-boxing, weight training, running and cycling. 

New York City-based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Joel Kopelman told DailyMail.com that her youthful looks are a combination of lifestyle and ‘subtle and well-executed’ cosmetic procedures.

Dr. Kopelman said the Miss Congeniality star’s ‘smooth skin, well-defined jawline, and minimal signs of ageing around her eyes point to a combination of treatments’.

‘It’s likely she’s had neuromodulators like Botox to soften fine lines, particularly around the eyes (crow’s feet) and forehead’, Dr. Kopelman predicted. ‘Additionally, subtle dermal fillers could have been used to maintain the volume in her cheeks, giving her a more youthful contour’.

Dr Banwell added that everchanging technology and quick access to it – which has progressed leaps and bounds since the days of the Golden Girls – has allowed for ‘tweakments’, giving the newer generation an edge over their past counterparts.

‘There are many more procedures readily available today for celebrities especially, to access’ said Dr Banwell. ‘It’s much easier to access certain procedures, such as botox and fillers, which can be performed quickly and with very little to no recovery time in comparison to years gone by.

‘Celebrities also have access to high-end skincare products, dermatological advice, professional makeup artists, and nutritional advice or even chefs to prepare their meals for them.

‘There are many elements to why many celebrities seem to look much younger than generations before, however, I think it comes down to tweakments and cosmetic procedures being more easily available and quickly accessed with little downtime for many of them’. 

Though stunning actress Vanessa Williams also belongs to the age-defying 60s club, the 61-year-old insists her blessed looks are (now) natural.

‘I don’t do fillers, I don’t do Botox anymore. I haven’t had a facelift, I do micro-current and nano-current technology, which is amazing’ she told People.

The former Miss America said she stopped the procedures because ‘I want to look like myself. I want people to know this face has lived’.  

According to Dr Banwell, female celebrities have found themselves trying to keep up with everchanging beauty standards and aim to appear ‘perfect’.

He explained: ‘There has always been a focus on women’s appearance and beauty, however what the beauty standard is for women to achieve constantly changes throughout time. 

‘What society would have called the beauty standard in the 18th century would have been completely different to what we view as beautiful today’.

Hollywood’s heartthrobs are also transforming, with today’s Brad Pitt, Rob Lowe and George Clooney looking hunkier than ever.

Dubbed the real life Benjamin Button – Brad, 61, famed for the 2008 film of the same name about a man who ages in reverse – looks so good fans have long speculated he had a facelift.

His visibly smooth face and suave wardrobe is starkly different to male stars before him, such as Marlon Brando, who by 60, was just a shadow of his hunky self. 

And while John Lithgow was balding and grey at 62, George Clooney is known to rock a full head at his red carpet events.

Similarly Denzel Washington boasted a youthful swagger circa 2014 – around the time the then-60-year-old played ex-Marine and DIA officer Robert McCall in The Equalizer.

Today’s stars are susceptible to peer pressure and have become influenced by trending beauty criteria, says Dr Banwell.

‘As our culture changes, so does how we view beauty. So as social media becomes ingrained in our society, it’s easy to get influenced by those with filters on their images and plastic surgery.

‘This fascination with wanting to appear ‘perfect’ is forcing many to be more critical of their appearance and want to have work done in order to look like the beauty standard of today, as changing your appearance has never been more available.

‘With how much many think about their appearance and compare themselves to others, especially online, it’s easy to forget how beauty is both within and on the outside’, he explained.

And for fans of these well-loved celebrities, Dr Banful delivered a thoughtful message: ‘Trying to find the ‘perfect’ look can damage how you see yourself, as the beauty standard is constantly evolving and changing and what was considered beautiful today might not be in 100 years’.