Iconic Stars That Have Aged Gracefully Over the Years

Once upon a time, every distinguished Hollywood star was a young person. Some older iconic stars have aged very gracefully, and it’s fun to remember what they looked like a long time in the past, often before they earned themselves the honor of being household names.

Ian McKellen, Now

Hollywood fame came to Ian McKellen relatively late in life, when his double-whammy roles in “Lord of the Rings” and “X-Men” brought him into mainstream vogue during the early ’00s.

Now in his eighties, McKellen is still working both on stage and in movies.

Ian McKellen, Then

McKellen had a prolific career as an actor for decades before making it big in Hollywood, touring the United Kingdom as a common sight in many high-profile theater productions.

To this day, McKellen takes every available opportunity to get up on stage.

Helen Mirren, Now

Most famous for her role as Queen Elizabeth in “The Queen” in 2006, Helen Mirren has enjoyed a long and illustrious career on the big screen.

Her biggest role in recent years has involved playing the villainous Queenie in the “Fast and Furious” franchise.

Helen Mirren, Then

Helen Mirren’s first big break on the silver screen came in 1980, with “The Good Long Friday.” Before this, she was a mainstay of London’s West End theater district, and was already well established before Hollywood first took notice of her.