It’s now only four days until the 40th anniversary of National Jen Day. In honor of the occasion, I hereby present these photos as reminders to myself that 40 is NOT the beginning of old and frumpy:
Salma Hayek — 42
Tea Leoni — 43
Jodie Foster — 46
Sheryl Crow — 47
Emma Thompson — 50
Lena Olin — 54
Susan Sarandon — 62
Damn.
Who else should be honored here?
Jen, my mom is 42 and she’s one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. And I’m not just saying that because she’s my mom. So there.
If, though, you spontaneously combust on your 40th birthday, maybe you could will some chocolate to me? I’m just sayin’…
I’ve done 40. It’s nothing! Piece of cake! My 40s were great. I say that as I close in on 49.
Good choices!
Unfortunately, I don’t think I looked as good as those women do when I was 30, let alone 40… unless I whip myself into glam-mode in the next two years?
Get a photo of yourself up there, girlfriend.
I’ll be joining you in about six months. I always swore that I would be healthier and in the best shape of my life at 40. I’m almost there, but I still have some work to do!
damn I swear Salma Hayek and I are not of the same species!
How about Helen Mirren? She’s hot.
No pity party! I say celebrate like Oprah and DisneyWorld…year round. What do you have planned? A parade? A key to city hall? Torturing your boy neighbors?
I agree Helen Mirren is hot so is Judi Dench, all the Desperate Housewives (Felicity Huffman!) that are over 40. Bo Derek is like 55! She’s still hot.
I agree before you have a 40 meltdown, could you spread the wealth on the salted chocolate first?
I have no idea how old Judi Dench is–or Helen Mirren, but those British gals age so damn well, too.
Ellen Degeneres also looks quite good for pushing 50.
The other good news to take away from these photos is that it helps to have a little bit of fat on you as you age. Eat that chocolate.
Yes, Helen Mirren…. and sweetie, don’t discount yourself so quickly…
I just turned 42 and though I do NOT look like Selma Hayek (that is way to much work) — I am loving my 40s….
I get discouraged looking at Jodi Foster. If only I would lose mumble mumble pounds I would look just like her. Which would be a good thing.
I agree, the first pic needs to be of Edgy Jen, and don’t forget about m’girl Demi. Oh, and Lucy Liu, too—
Kim Cattrall
Courtney Cox Arquette
Andie MacDowell
Iman.
You.
Go look at the picture of Helen Mirren in a bikini that was all over the internet last year. THAT will give you something to shoot for!
If you take a minute to consider that ALL of the Desperate Housewives, skinny bitches all, look like they need a shot of plumping up medicine (collagen?) in just about all of their cracks . . . .then I think you would come to the obvious conclusion that as we age, and we sag and we wrinkle, a bit of fat can help the “look” immensely.
Unless you’re a fan of all that mid-life “help” aka plastic surgery, I think you’d do well to remember that if you smoke, (or have smoked), layed out in the sun frying your skin to a leathery crisp (and if you’re around 40-ish, I think you have) you will not age as *gracefully* as those women who have a bit of chunk on the frame.
I think that’s why the UK ladies look better, I don’t think they fried themselves over in England the way we U.S. ladies did, back in the 70′s & 80′s.
Fat fills the cracks, but not too much, or you just have a fatty, saggy body. Or, you have a rich husband/boy toy who’ll pay to have that lifted, or removed for ya.
Just sayin’. I”m 46, so I think I”m entitled here.
I had my third baby just 2 months before I turned 40. It didn’t occur to me to fret about my age, I was too busy!
Forty is a fabulous decade!
40 is the new black! Hope the party goes really well – looking forward to photos! xxx
I’ll be 46 next week. …
Obviously yourself, duh!!! And I agree with the choice of Helen Mirren – she’s not botoxed to within an inch of her life like other typical Hollywood actresses.
I honestly don’t understand how these women look so good (especially Susan S.). 40 is good. Welcome to the club.
Embrace 40, I think that’s when I really started coming into my own, and feeling better about myself. 43 though, sorta sucketh, so I’m hoping that with spring coming up and my body picking itself back up again, the rest of the year to 44 will be better.
So, I would add Brooke Shields, the Sex and the City ladies (all over 40 I think), Jen Aniston, Calista Flockhart… and YOU in a couple of days, you look totally awesome.
Spy Mommy! Err…Lena Olin. Great list!
what about Meg Ryan? Is she over 40?
I don’t even look that good in my 20′s!
Sally Fields looks damn good for being over 40!