What if the most thrilling performances in Hollywood theatres this weekend were not emanating from newcomers, but from the performers who have been thrilling us for decades? In an industry where there may be a youth focus, a solid stable of actors over 80 are demonstrating that talent, charisma, and vitality only get better with age.
These stars are not appearing in token cameos or riding their retro waves these stars are starring in major movies, penning the scripts they’re living, and wowing audiences with their enduringness. They’re redefining what it means to age in the limelight within franchise pictures and indies.
Here are eight living legends who not only remain active but thriving, and proving that the best pages can be much further down the line.
1. Helen Mirren: The Reigning Queen of Versatility
At 80, Dame Helen Mirren’s performance is still as strong as ever. An expert at playing formidable women Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen, Russian royalty in Catherine the Great she continues to be committed to taking on roles that go against ageist stereotypes. Recent credits have included the Western drama series 1923 with Harrison Ford, the UK crime drama MobLand, and the popular whodunit The Thursday Murder Club.
Mirren’s range is staggering: she’s played monarchs, action antiheroes in the Fast & Furious franchise, and even narrated the billion-dollar hit Barbie. As she told The Lancaster Post, she approaches each new script with the thought, “This might be my last job… so I’d better get it right.” That mindset fuels performances layered with authority, wit, and vulnerability qualities that only decades of experience can hone.
2. Harrison Ford: The Reluctant Retiree Who Refuses to Let Up
Harrison Ford, 83, made it unmistakably apparent he won’t let up. In just the past two years alone, he’s appeared in 1923, Apple TV+ comedy Shrinking, and Indiana Jones’ return in Dial of Destiny. He’s also hit the Marvel trail as President Thaddeus Ross in Captain America: Brave New World.
Looking back on his longevity in a CNN interview, Ford stated, “I probably like making movies more now than I ever did. I love to work. I love to feel useful.” That energy carries over on screen, whether he’s trying to round up cattle in Montana or delivering dry comedic timing as a shrink.
3. Morgan Freeman: The Voice That Never Ages
At 88, still one of the greatest actors in movies, Morgan Freeman recently appeared in Paramount+ thriller Lioness, independent dramedy My Dead Friend Zoe, scored a near-mike 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, and in the new Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.
Freeman’s own career, from Shawshank Redemption to Invictus, has been one of substance and warmth. His ability to elevate any performance, in a blockbuster or a left-field indie, is a testament to his timeless quality of craft and his people-connection with audiences.
4. Rita Moreno: The Eternal Trailblazer
Rita Moreno, 93, is one of the EGOT winners to date and an older connection to the Golden Age of Hollywood. From West Side Story to The Electric Company, she’s had a career that’s spanned musicals, drama, and comedy. She recently starred in 80 for Brady, Fast X, and the Netflix family comedy Family Switch.
Moreno has been open about battling early-career bias and personal struggles, telling an interview with E! News that she uses those moments as inspiration for her performances. Her motto is basic but wise: “I call it spreading joy, little gestures that go a long way.” That need to share radiates in each performance.
5. Sir Ben Kingsley: The Relentless Craftsman
Academy Award winner and 81-year-old Sir Ben Kingsley is hardly slowing down. Arguably most recognizably famous for Gandhi, he has recently appeared in Wes Anderson’s The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and is next set to appear in The Thursday Murder Club, Terrence Malick’s The Way of the Wind, and the MCU’s Wonder Man.
Kingsley’s subsequent work during the period epic Desert Warrior and thriller Deep Water is evidence of his voracity for different, challenging material. With hectic schedules proving true for him, as an artist, one being so is a lifelong pursuit for Kingsley.
6. Jane Fonda: The Activist Powerhouse
87 and continuing strong, Jane Fonda acts and speaks out. She has appeared in Book Club: The Next Chapter in the past year, voiced Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken, and become a climate activist with her Jane Fonda Climate PAC.
Fonda’s activism started during the Vietnam War years and never stopped for which she has apologized. Interviewed on Fresh Air, she stated, “This is not the time to go inward… we have to speak, we have to shout.” Both on screen and off, she embodies the possibility that purpose drives longevity.
7. Clint Eastwood: The Director Who Outpaces Time
95-year-old Clint Eastwood has performed in front of and behind the camera for more than half a century, having directed 40 films between 1971 and 2024. The most recent acting credit is in Cry Macho (2021), while the two most recent credits as a director are Juror #2 and Richard Jewell.
Eastwood told Kurier in 2025, “There’s no reason why a man can’t get better with age… I’m not one of [those who lose their touch].” His disciplined output and refusal to coast on past glories make him a singular figure in Hollywood history.
8. June Squibb: The Late-Blooming Leading Lady
June Squibb, 94, is experiencing professional excitement at a first headlining role in Thelma, a comedy-thriller film about a granny who goes to apprehend a con. The movie, parodying Mission: Impossible with scooter chases, has been a box office success and critical favorite.
Squibb, Oscar-nominated at 84 for Nebraska, does her own stunts whenever possible. “I really care little what anybody thinks anymore,” she explained to PBS during an interview. That fearlessness, combined with her sassy, smart comedic intelligence, makes her one of the most thrilling and inspiring actresses working today.
They demonstrate that age is not a barrier, it’s a virtue. The experience they’ve gained over the years lends unprecedented richness to their performances, and their determination to keep working belies Hollywood’s tired myths about who deserves their day in the sun. For audiences, it’s a plus: more opportunities to observe legends perform what they do best, bringing to life characters that will inspire for generations.
